A recent global survey by the Peninsula Group has thrown cold water on some of the hype around AI adoption in small and medium-sized businesses. While large enterprises have moved quickly to integrate AI tools into their operations, around half of NZ businesses surveyed said they had not incorporated AI at all — and among those who have tried it, concerns about security and reliability are common.
For tradespeople and small construction businesses, this is a familiar position. New technology tends to reach the trades later than other sectors, partly because the daily reality of trade work is hands-on and site-based in ways that don’t naturally accommodate desk-based software, and partly because the return on investment from most digital tools isn’t always obvious when your business is built on skill and relationships rather than data processing.
What the Survey Found
Conducted across Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, and the UK, the survey found that security concerns were the number one barrier to AI adoption — cited by 26% of NZ business respondents. Uncertainty about how AI handles sensitive client and financial data is a legitimate concern, particularly for businesses that don’t have dedicated IT support.
Among businesses that have adopted AI tools, the most common applications were writing assistance (drafting quotes, emails, and job descriptions), basic research, and scheduling or administrative tasks. These are areas where AI genuinely reduces time spent on tasks that don’t require trade expertise.
Where AI Actually Adds Value for Tradies
Despite the slow adoption, there are genuine practical applications for trade businesses that don’t require significant investment or technical expertise:
- Quote and proposal writing: AI tools can draft professional, detailed quotes from bullet points — useful for businesses where the owner is competent on the tools but less comfortable with written communication.
- Job ads and staff communication: Writing position descriptions, health and safety communications, and client correspondence is faster with AI assistance.
- Social media and website content: For tradies trying to build an online presence, AI can generate post ideas and draft content from photos and job descriptions.
- Schedule optimisation: Some job management software now includes AI-assisted scheduling that suggests optimal job sequencing based on location and trade availability.
Start Small
The barrier to entry is lower than most people think. Free or low-cost AI tools — including tools built into word processors, email clients, and phone apps — are accessible to any business owner. The approach that works: pick one specific, time-consuming task that you do regularly, try an AI tool for that task for two weeks, and assess whether it saves you meaningful time. That’s the evidence base for deciding whether to go further.