Serbian companies expand AI use to 17.2% in 2026, survey shows

The share of Serbian enterprises using artificial intelligence rose to 17.2% in 2026 from 10.1% in 2025, according to the latest enterprise information and communications technology survey published by the Statistical Office of Serbia. The increase points to faster digitalisation in the corporate sector, but it also shows that adoption remains uneven across regions and industries.

The survey covers enterprises with at least 10 employees, so it does not include microbusinesses. That means the figures are useful for understanding larger parts of the economy, but they do not represent the full business landscape in Serbia.

For foreign investors, lenders and suppliers, the data suggest that AI is moving from early experimentation toward broader business use. The question now is not only how many companies use it, but where it is being applied and whether it improves productivity, costs and competitiveness.

Belgrade leads, while regional gaps remain

The strongest adoption was recorded in Belgrade, at 20.4%. That compares with 16.7% in southern and eastern Serbia, 15.8% in Vojvodina and 12.5% in Šumadija and western Serbia.

This suggests that access to technology, specialist staff and larger corporate budgets is still concentrated in the capital. Belgrade is home to many headquarters, financial institutions, telecoms and technology companies, while other parts of the country have a larger share of traditional industry and smaller firms.

The differences matter because AI investment usually depends on more than software alone. Companies often need data systems, integration work, staff training and, in industrial settings, new sensors or upgraded equipment.

Industry and banking are likely to be the main users

Manufacturing companies can use AI for predictive maintenance, quality control, production planning and energy management. These applications are especially relevant in sectors such as automotive components, metals, chemicals, food processing and machinery, where downtime and waste directly affect profit margins.

In the banking sector, AI can support fraud detection, credit-risk analysis, transaction monitoring and customer service. Serbian banks already handle large volumes of structured data, which gives them a practical base for more advanced tools.

At the same time, regulated businesses face tighter demands for data protection, cybersecurity and governance. That means AI projects in finance must be judged not only by potential efficiency gains, but also by compliance and operational risk.

SMEs face financing and skills constraints

Small and medium-sized enterprises are likely to be an important part of the next stage of adoption, but they often lack the capital and specialist staff needed for larger digital projects. For many of them, the first use cases will probably be administrative automation, inventory control or customer communication.

More advanced industrial projects may require financing that banks and leasing companies are not always set up to assess easily. That creates room for products tied to measurable productivity gains, especially if businesses can show clear operational benefits.

For the broader economy, the main issue is whether AI investment remains concentrated in a limited number of larger companies or spreads into regional industry and export-oriented SMEs. A stronger rollout outside Belgrade would help narrow the current technology gap.

What the figures mean for Serbia’s competitiveness

The rise from 10.1% to 17.2% in one year indicates that Serbian companies are becoming more willing to use AI, but the statistics do not show how much they are spending or what returns they are getting. A company may adopt AI for routine office tasks without any major change in productivity, while a smaller number of industrial users could generate significant efficiency gains.

For Serbia’s export competitiveness, the key issue is whether AI supports better output, lower costs and stronger quality control. If it does, it could become part of a wider shift in the country’s business model, especially in manufacturing and service sectors linked to European supply chains.

The latest survey also points to business opportunities for software providers, automation firms, cybersecurity specialists and engineering companies. But the market is still at an early stage, and the next milestone will be whether the current rise in adoption translates into measurable gains in productivity and profitability.

For readers following Serbia’s digital and industrial transition, related coverage can be found in latest news.