Is Your Business Behind on AI? New Surveys Reveal the Gap
The urgency of now
AI hype is everywhere, but adoption is another story. According to a National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) survey from June 2025, only 24 % of small employers currently use AI, even though 63 % believe it will be important in the next five years. The majority are watching from the sidelines while early adopters reap the benefits. If you’re still debating whether AI is relevant to your home‑service business, consider this: companies that embed AI into their core strategies achieve 20–30 % improvements in productivity and speed to market. The question is no longer if you should adopt AI—it’s when and how.
What recent surveys tell us
Usage remains low. NFIB’s survey found that adoption is concentrated in specific functions: 29 % use AI for communications and 27 % for marketing, while only 14 % use it for data analysis. Importantly, nearly all users (98 %) reported that AI had not reduced staffing, debunking the myth that AI leads to layoffs.
Exploration is high. A Reimagine Main Street survey supported by PayPal found that over 50 % of small businesses are exploring AI implementation and 25 % have integrated AI into their daily operations An overwhelming 82 % believe AI is essential to stay competitive. Top priorities include marketing automation (77 %), cash‑flow forecasting (53 %), revenue prediction (45 %) and real‑time customer insights (40 %).
Broad interest, minimal opposition. A survey summarised by the National Small Business Association (NSBA) shows that 76 % of small businesses are either actively using or exploring AI, only 5 % are opposed and one in four use AI daily.
Enterprise insights. Nearly half of technology leaders report fully integrating AI into their core strategies, and organisations that adopt strategically achieve 20–30 % performance improvementsi.
These numbers illustrate a widening gap: curiosity is high, but deep integration remains rare. Businesses that hesitate risk being left behind as AI becomes integral to customer expectations.
Why some owners hesitate
Several factors slow adoption:
Cost and complexity. Many owners fear that implementing AI requires expensive software and technical expertise.
Data concerns. There’s confusion around data privacy and security, especially with customer information.
Uncertainty about ROI. Without clear case studies, it’s hard to justify investment.
Overwhelming options. The market is full of AI tools, and owners aren’t sure which ones truly add value.
Why waiting could hurt your business
AI is rapidly becoming part of the service norm. Customers increasingly expect instant booking, personalized communication and proactive reminders. If your business relies solely on human staff, you may miss leads when clients call after hours or when your team is busy. Meanwhile, competitors using AI respond immediately.
The Reimagine Main Street survey found that 58 % of businesses using AI save over 20 hours per month and 66 % save between $500 and $2,000 monthly, redirecting those savings to growth initiatives. Almost half of respondents are open to the idea that AI might reduce reliance on employees under the right conditions—but the same survey notes that AI primarily complements staff by freeing them from routine tasks In other words, AI doesn’t replace your team; it multiplies their impact.
How to catch up without breaking the bank
Start small with high‑impact tasks. Use AI for call answering and appointment booking—areas where missed opportunities cost you revenue.
Leverage trusted partners. Choose platforms tailored for home‑service businesses. They handle technical complexity so you can focus on operations.
Focus on ROI. Evaluate AI investments based on time saved, jobs booked and customer satisfaction rather than vanity metrics.
Educate your team. AI works best alongside humans. Train staff to supervise AI agents and handle exceptions.
Iterate and expand. As you see results, layer in advanced functions like follow‑up messaging, predictive analytics and dynamic pricing.
Final thoughts and call to action
The AI adoption gap is real, but it’s also your competitive advantage. Small‑business owners who act now will be positioned to capture more leads, reduce admin and delight customers while laggards scramble to catch up. Remember: AI is a tool, not a replacement. Used correctly, it amplifies what makes your business unique—your service quality and human touch.
👉 Read our agentic AI blog to understand how digital assistants can act as junior employees.
👉 Read our multimodal AI blog to see how voice, images and video combine into next‑level customer interactions.
👉 Watch the on‑demand webinar and book a free strategy call to implement AI today.
