In this respect, Poland is at the very end of European countries. Older staff hinders development
Poland lags behind in the adaptation of artificial intelligence. Can older managers be an obstacle to the development of technology that could save the country from labor shortages?
Experts warn that older management staff in companies is the main factor inhibiting the implementation of technologies based on artificial intelligence. Poland struggles with a lack of appropriate digital education, outdated legislation and inappropriate use of available data. As a result, Poland ranks among the last in the European Union in terms of AI adoption, ahead only of Bulgaria and Romania. Specialists warn that if the situation does not change, the country may face a serious problem of staff shortage, which will affect the quality of services in the face of upcoming demographic changes.
Polish economy and artificial intelligence
Eurostat data from 2023 indicate that Poland ranks fourth from bottom in the European Union in terms of the use of AI-related technologies in enterprises. While the average for the EU is 8 percent, in Poland it is only 3.7 percent. companies use such technologies, mainly in large companies employing over 250 people – says Piotr Biegun, operational director of Algolytics Technologies.
Only Romania and Bulgaria report poorer results, where only 2 percent enterprises use AI. In Poland and Hungary this indicator is 3.7 percent, and in Greece 4 percent. The best performing countries are Denmark and Finland, where over 15 percent companies implement AI technologies. – The more economically advanced a given economy is, the greater the use of artificial intelligence and data – emphasizes Biegun. Even countries such as Italy, which are not known for modern technologies, are dynamically implementing business intelligence solutions.
The main barrier to the implementation of new technologies in Poland is the structure of companies. Many of them are older family enterprises with a conservative approach to technology. For smaller companies looking to compete with larger ones, technology is a key tool to improve efficiency and provide better services. This means that such companies have a chance for success if they decide to invest in AI and modern tools.
There is also a cult of manual work in Poland, which means that company managers often believe that increasing employment is the only way to improve results. However, in light of an aging population and shrinking labor resources, this approach is ineffective. Data from the Central Statistical Office show that at the end of 2023, the number of people of working age in Poland was 22 million, which means a decrease of 202,000 compared to the previous year. The working-age population accounted for 58.4 percent. the entire population, compared to 58.7 percent in 2022.
Lack of automation and investment in modern technologies may result in a decline in the quality of services. Customers increasingly expect real-time solutions, and the lack of appropriate technology makes it difficult for companies to meet these expectations. – To change the unfavorable trend, education is necessary, especially among senior management staff – emphasizes Biegun.
Another problem is data. Without adequate data quality, companies are unable to function properly or implement advanced technologies such as AI. Poland has rich sources of data, such as information about companies and statistical data prepared by the Central Statistical Office. However, the low quality of this data and the lack of its integration means that they cannot be fully used for the development of enterprises.
In addition to education and improving data quality, changing organizational culture is also an important factor. – If there is no culture of openness to experiments, mistakes and innovations in the company, the implementation of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, will not be possible – notes Biegun. Employees must have space to test new solutions, and companies must support them in this.
Legislative barriers
Legislation is also important. Currently, there are many legal barriers in Poland that hinder the implementation of technology. For example, leasing companies cannot use electronic signatures due to inappropriate regulations. These types of legal blocks slow down the technological development of companies.
Finally, there is the matter of strategy. Poland should clearly state that it wants to build its economy on modern technologies, in which humans cooperate with technology and are not replaced by it. Such a vision would help companies make better decisions about investing in innovation and allow the country to build international competitiveness.