Ireland's SMEs are ready to go digital – what's holding them back?

Ireland's small businesses are eager to embrace digital tools, yet many still struggle to access the guidance, skills and confidence needed to make technology work for them.

That's why Enterprise Nation created Tech Hub Ireland – a national initiative delivered with partners including Vodafone, Square, GS1 Ireland, Amazon, Google and .ie, to help SMEs boost their digital capability.

Through free training, tailored resources, events and partner support, the programme is designed to make it easier for founders to adopt technology, improve productivity and grow online.

As part of this mission, Enterprise Nation recently brought together small business owners, leading technology partners and government to discuss the biggest barriers and opportunities for digital adoption in Ireland today.

Last week's roundtable with Minister Niamh Smyth TD provided an open forum to share real-life experiences from SMEs on the ground, examine what's working and explore what more can be done to help small businesses thrive in a digital-first economy.

The participants

Hosted by Enterprise Nation and supported by Tech Hub partners Vodafone, Square, GS1 Ireland, Amazon, .ie and Google, we were delighted to be joined by:

• Niamh Smyth TD, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with special responsibility for AI and Digital Transformation

• Conor Brennan, public policy program manager, Amazon Ireland

• Sinead Perry, head of SMB, Vodafone Business

• Siobhain Duggan, CEO, GS1 Ireland

• Paul Mortby, head of EMEA policy, Square/Block

• Nikunj Mehta, co-founder, Nutty Delights

• Stephen Hallahan, founder and CEO, Tap Retail

• Michelle Mead, CEO, MyKidsTime

Key themes from the discussion

Awareness and access to government supports

Participants highlighted that while a wide range of financial supports exist through Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), many small businesses are unaware of them or find they don't qualify.

Even when they do apply, the process can be complex, time-consuming and often requires upfront investment – a major barrier for micro-businesses that are already stretched.

Inconsistent LEO support

Small business owners highlighted that the support available from LEOs varies significantly by region.

While many advisers offer excellent guidance, others do not, leaving some businesses at a disadvantage simply because of where they're based.

Falling between the cracks

Local, non-exporting firms often find themselves in a "support gap" – too advanced for entry-level programmes, but not yet eligible for Enterprise Ireland support as they scale.

The SME confidence gap

Every founder at the roundtable said they were already using AI and that the technology has been transformative for their businesses.

However, our research shows that confidence remains low, with most SMEs rating themselves just three out of five. Only one in three currently describe their business as "digital", meaning there's still huge untapped potential.

How Tech Hub partners are supporting SMEs

• Square emphasised the time-saving impact of automation, noting that the hardest part is often just getting started.

• Vodafone spoke about supporting small businesses end-to-end on their digital journey – from cloud computing and collaboration to cyber security.

• GS1 Ireland reinforced the importance of accurate, standardised data and the growing relevance of e-invoicing.

• Amazon shared insights from over 1,000 Irish SMEs trading through its Marketplace, highlighting regulatory complexity as a major challenge and advocating for digital tools that remove friction.

What are the solutions?

The roundtable discussed some steps that could be applied now to help address the barriers:

• Simplify and widen access to supports, with shorter application forms, more straightforward processes and less need for upfront investment.

• Raise awareness with a national campaign sharing real stories of small businesses successfully adopting digital technology.

• Build easy-to-access digital training with short, flexible courses that fit around a founder's busy schedule.

• Create a one-stop-shop online platform with case studies, training, guides and videos.

• Enable peer-to-peer learning and support for small business owners to learn from each other.

Final thoughts

The purpose of the roundtable was to amplify the voice of Ireland's small business community, and Minister Smyth showed genuine awareness of the challenges entrepreneurs face every day.

What emerged clearly is that small business owners are motivated and ready to adopt digital tools – but the path needs to be simpler, more consistent and easier to navigate.

There was a strong sense of shared purpose between government, corporate partners and SMEs to make digital adoption easier, faster and more inclusive for every small business in Ireland.

Enterprise Nation and our Tech Hub partners will continue to play our part by connecting founders with the right support so they can unlock the full potential of digital technology.

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