AI uptake varies across the workplace, with the property services and finance and insurance sectors being the highest adopters, according to NAB’s latest findings.
In its report, Embracing AI: Adoption & Key Opportunities Identified by SMEs, NAB found that digitally mature sectors made productivity and decision-making gains, and others remain constrained by capability gaps and uncertainty about value. For the research, NAB collected survey responses from approximately 670 SMEs across the non-farm sector between 10 November and 9 December 2025.
Its findings revealed that 42 per cent of Australian SMEs used AI in their business, with 14 per cent planning to adopt AI, and 16 per cent reported that AI would not assist them.
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Currently, more than 98 per cent of all Australian businesses are SMEs. According to its research, one in two SMEs (44 per cent) reported not using AI; that is over 40 per cent of all Australian businesses.
Sector-by-sector adoption of AI varies, the report revealed, with property services (69 per cent) having the highest uptake, and transport and storage with the lowest (21 per cent).
The property sector’s rate was closely followed by high adoption in the finance and insurance sector (65 per cent) and business services (61 per cent).
The report noted that these top three sectors show high levels of digital maturity and extensive volume of data, and AI aligns closely with key tasks, including forecasting and modelling, compliance and risk management, process automation, and efficiency gains.
In its report, NAB found that the finance and insurance sector identified automating repetitive tasks as AI’s biggest opportunity – the highest of all sectors involved in the study (64 per cent).
In addition, finance and insurance sector respondents focused on AI as a tool for improving decision making the most (35 per cent), revealing growing confidence in AI’s ability to enhance forecasting, risk assessment and operational planning.
Among the lowest adopters of AI were manufacturing (35 per cent) and retail (22 per cent). Interestingly, retail was found to have the highest rate of non-adoption (64 per cent).
“These industries generally operate with tighter margins, legacy systems, and fragmented supply chains – constraints that can make AI integration more challenging,” NAB said.
NAB group executive for digital, data and AI, Pete Steel, said: “We’re seeing a clear shift from curiosity to practical use, with more businesses using AI to save time, reduce admin burdens and make better decisions.”
“Overall, the data reflects that sectors with strong digital foundations or analytical workflows are best positioned to integrate and benefit from AI, so their leadership in adoption aligns well with expectations set by their operational models and industry needs,” the report read.
“The central message is clear: Each sector’s operating model, data maturity and commercial pressures are shaping the pathways SMEs are taking,” it concluded.
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Carlos Tse
AUTHOR
Carlos Tse is a graduate journalist writing for Accountants Daily, HR Leader, Lawyers Weekly.