Agent-based AI as a way of overcoming the complexities of doing business

Italian SMEs view agent-based AI as an increasingly important tool for streamlining complex business activities – from international procurement and supplier selection to administration and logistics – according to new research commissioned by Alibaba.com and conducted by Censuswide amongst 1,000 Italian SME decision-makers.

Almost all respondents (96%) consider agent-based AI to be important for the opportunities it offers SMEs in 2026, whilst nearly three-quarters (74%) believe their company is likely to adopt agent-based AI tools within the next 12 months. Furthermore, nearly nine in ten (87%) say they wish to deepen their understanding of agent-based AI and its potential applications.

The research shows that companies are considering agent-based AI for practical applications in their day-to-day operations. The most frequently cited areas where respondents expect benefits include the management of customs procedures, import regulations and documentation for international procurement (23%), comparing suppliers, prices and alternatives (22 per cent) and administrative and financial processes (21 per cent).

Other areas where SMEs see potential benefits from agent-based AI include verifying the quality and reliability of suppliers, managing supplier relationships, customer service and customer experience, product development and innovation, searching for new products or suppliers, and managing orders, shipments and logistics, with figures standing at around 19 per cent.

These priorities reflect some of the challenges highlighted by companies in a previous study commissioned by Alibaba.com in 2024. At the time, respondents had highlighted: the search for reliable partners (21 per cent), issues with the supply chain and logistics (20 per cent), regulatory barriers (20 per cent) and the bureaucracy involved in international business (17 per cent).

Two years on, many of these same areas are among those where SMEs see potential in agent-based AI to support their operations – from navigating regulations and documentation to supplier assessment and logistics management. The findings indicate that companies are increasingly identifying concrete ways in which AI could help them navigate the complexities associated with international operations and procurement.

As Patrick Sostmann, General Manager Europe at Alibaba.com, stated: “For SMEs, complexity is often one of the biggest challenges in doing business, particularly when it comes to sourcing, supplier evaluation and operating internationally. What this research shows is that Italian companies are already identifying very practical areas where an agent-based AI platform designed specifically for SMEs, such as Accio, can support them. Our aim is to make these capabilities accessible to all SMEs and help them navigate complex business processes more easily – from sourcing and procurement to day-to-day operations – enabling them to compete in global markets”.

Accio is Alibaba.com’s agent-based AI platform for businesses, providing a team of pre-configured AI agents capable of supporting the entire lifecycle of SMEs, from start to finish. Small businesses and entrepreneurs can use Accio to conduct market research, identify product opportunities, develop new products, evaluate suppliers and manage day-to-day operations. Unlike generative AI tools that merely respond to individual prompts, the agents from Accio agents are capable of carrying out autonomous, multi-stage tasks, including comparing supplier options and monitoring price trends, thereby reducing the repetitive and time-consuming work that takes up much of small business owners’ days.

Overall, the research shows that Italian SMEs are increasingly considering agent-based AI in relation to concrete business applications and areas of particular relevance, such as sourcing, supplier management and international operations.

Methodology

The 2026 survey was conducted by Censuswide between 18 and 24 August 2026 amongst 1,000 decision-makers, aged 25 or over, from Italian SMEs with fewer than 250 employees. The 2024 survey, conducted from 24 to 31 May amongst 1,000 entrepreneurs, covered companies in the manufacturing/product sector with at least 10 employees, a turnover of at least 3.5 million euros and international sales activities; it also included companies with more than 250 employees. For this reason, the comparison reflects an evolution of the landscape rather than a perfectly homogeneous time series.

Find out more: https://www.accio.com/