AI as a driver of digital platform development in the Ukrainian economy: focus on small and medium-sized

Abstract

This work analyzes the evolution of the digital platform using artificial intelligence in the Ukrainian economy. Particular emphasis is placed on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). For this purpose, a mixed-method approach was adopted. It combined quantitative and qualitative methods. The quantitative prospect was effectuated using a structured survey targeting SME owners, co-founders, operations managers, and heads of marketing, logistics, customer support, and finance. The qualitative part concerned semi-structured interviews with SME decision-makers. The results demonstrated that while artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly improved operational efficiency and digitalization in Ukrainian SMEs, its effectiveness is constrained by financial, technical, and regulatory obstacles. Nonetheless, context-specific drivers of digitalization enable gradual, pragmatic adoption, with measurable benefits emerging even under cautious and uneven integration. The study concludes that AI plays a pragmatic yet limited role in driving digital transformation among Ukrainian SMEs.