Research from Be Certified reveals that 28% of UK small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) view data and artificial intelligence (AI) as their top digitalisation priority for 2026, while compliance and certification are ranked lowest for future digital investment. The consultancy surveyed 700 SME owners and managers to explore how these businesses are navigating digital transformation and directing their spending. This year, over half of the respondents, 55%, indicated that digitalisation is a key growth priority, with 60% reporting improved efficiency from digital tools, and 43% noting that these tools have increased profitability.
Investment trends show that many SMEs are prioritising areas closely tied to their daily operations. Accounting and finance emerged as the most commonly digitised functions, with 63% of SMEs implementing digital systems in this area. Security came next at 55%, followed by workforce platforms at 52%, and sales systems at 51%. In stark contrast, compliance and certification ranked the lowest, with only 34% of respondents indicating they had digitised these functions, making it the least adopted area according to the study.
This trend is reflected in future priorities, as just 3% of SMEs identified compliance and certification as their highest digitalisation focus, although 30% plan to digitise these functions by 2026. The research highlights a disconnect between what SMEs view as strategically important and what they anticipate modernising in the long run. Sales and marketing tools were the top future priority for 19% of those surveyed, while 12% pointed to security as a critical investment area.
Interest in AI appears strongest among certain sectors. In the construction industry, 26% of businesses identified AI as a focal point, while this percentage rose to 33% for healthcare and reached 53% in the IT sector. Across the broader SME landscape, 28% named data and AI as their main digitalisation focus for the year, with 43% expecting to implement AI tools in some capacity.
Other areas earmarked for digitalisation include workforce and collaboration tools at 37%, sales and marketing tools at 34%, operations and supply chain tools at 33%, security software at 32%, and accountancy and finance at 30%. Notably, compliance and certification matched finance at 30% for planned digitalisation, despite their lower status as a top priority. This suggests that while compliance and certification processes are seen as important, they lag behind other operational areas in terms of urgency and immediate investment.
The findings illustrate that SMEs are more inclined to digitalise front-office, financial, and operational systems before turning their attention to governance processes. Respondents noted practical benefits when compliance tasks were transitioned to digital systems, with nearly a quarter, or 24%, claiming that digitalisation has eased their compliance burden. Additionally, 36% stated that adopting digital solutions has enabled them to better meet customer expectations.
These insights come at a time when smaller businesses are under increasing pressure to enhance record-keeping, security oversight, and operational efficiency while managing costs. The accompanying materials cited annual costs of £14.7 billion for businesses due to cyberattacks and data privacy breaches, even as relatively few SMEs prioritize compliance and certification in their digital strategies.
Agnes Sopel, Lead Auditor and ISO Consultant at Be Certified, commented on the findings: “It’s encouraging to see that some SMEs have embraced digital tools in their finance and operations. However, compliance and certification processes are often still handled manually, leading to delays and inefficiencies. We believe that bringing these areas into the digital fold will be a game-changer for SMEs.” She added, “By adopting digital platforms, businesses can automate and streamline their compliance and certification processes, drastically reducing the time spent on paperwork and audit preparation. SMEs have proven that digitalisation saves time and boosts profits. The next step is the ‘last mile’: making compliance and certification just as digital as finance or security. That means simple workflows, clear evidence, and confidence that you’re meeting recognised standards.”
As SMEs navigate the complexities of digital transformation, the challenge will be to balance immediate operational needs with long-term strategic goals, especially in areas like compliance and certification that are often overlooked but essential for sustainable growth.
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