In 2025, a clear digital divide persisted across European businesses, with larger enterprises far more likely than small firms to rely on advanced e-business applications, according

to EU data.

These tools—covering enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), and business intelligence (BI) systems—are now central to how companies manage operations, customer data, and analytics. However, adoption rates continue to vary sharply by company size.

The gap is most pronounced in the use of ERP systems, the most widely adopted category across the bloc. While 41% of small enterprises reported using ERP software, the share rose dramatically to 89% among large firms—a difference of 48 percentage points. A similar pattern emerges in business intelligence tools, used by just 11% of small companies compared with 69% of large enterprises, a gap of 58 points. CRM systems show a slightly narrower divide, ranging from 25% adoption in small businesses to 65% in large ones.

Overall, just over half of all enterprises in the European Union reported using at least one of these specialised digital systems in 2025.

Across member states, adoption levels also vary widely. The highest usage was recorded in Denmark and Finland, both at 73%, followed by Belgium and the Netherlands at 70%, and Spain at 66%.

At the other end of the spectrum, adoption remained significantly lower in Bulgaria (31%), Romania (32%), and Slovakia (34%), highlighting continued disparities in digital transformation across the bloc.

The findings underscore a broader trend: while digital tools are becoming mainstream in European business, access and implementation remain heavily influenced by company size and national context. Photo by Spanishstudent006, Wikimedia commons.