62.4% of MSMEs to keep using AI in 2027 — Lalamove
More than six in 10 Filipino micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) plan to continue using artificial intelligence (AI) for their businesses in 2027, as rising delivery demands and logistics costs push entrepreneurs to adopt more flexible operations, according to a survey by on-demand delivery platform Lalamove.
Of the more than 1,100 Filipino business users surveyed in September, 62.4 percent said they intend to continue using AI next year, while 37.6 percent said they do not plan to do so.
The survey also found that 41.4 percent of respondents said their businesses needed to operate faster than last year, with 14.8 percent reporting that the pace had become much faster and 26.6 percent saying it had become slightly faster.
MSMEs optimistic but wary of rising costs
Optimism was the most common outlook among Filipino MSMEs for 2027, with 35.8 percent of respondents expressing optimism about business prospects in the Philippines.
However, 22.5 percent said they were cautious, 16.2 percent were uncertain, 13.5 percent expected no change, and 12 percent were pessimistic.
Despite the mixed outlook, 80.1 percent expected their delivery demand to remain at roughly the same level as this year.
Cost pressures remain a key concern. While 52 percent expected transport and logistics costs to remain relatively unchanged from last year, 36.1 percent anticipated an increase.
High logistics costs were the most frequently cited obstacle to business growth over the next 12 months, identified by 42.2 percent of respondents. Interest rate hikes and inflation followed at 39.5 percent, while 38.2 percent cited low consumer spending.
Meanwhile, customer expectations for faster service are increasing. Some 23.7 percent of respondents said expectations for delivery and response times were slightly higher than last year, while 14.5 percent said they were much higher.
AI adoption and delivery needs evolve
Among respondents who reported using AI, the most common applications were creative work, cited by 29.5 percent, followed by marketing at 27.8 percent and research at 24.3 percent. Business operations accounted for 18.4 percent.
Delivery requirements are also shifting toward more time-sensitive services.
Urgent same-day deliveries recorded the largest increase in demand, with 58.8 percent of respondents saying their need for the service had grown compared with last year.
After-hours deliveries were cited by 23.4 percent, while 21.2 percent reported an increased need for multi-stop deliveries involving several drop-off points in a single trip.