More companies in the Czech Republic are adopting modern digital technologies, but the country still lags behind the EU average in several key areas. The number of companies launching online shops is growing, and the use of artificial intelligence is on the rise.
The proportion of companies in the Czech Republic with 10 or more employees connected to the internet at speeds exceeding 100 Mbit/s increased from 35% in 2020 to 46% in 2024. However, the Czech Republic remains below the EU27 average, where 65% of companies have broadband internet access. Companies in Denmark have long had the fastest internet connections, with over 90% of businesses reporting internet speeds of more than 100 Mbit/s last year.
Online Shops in the Czech Republic: Above the EU Average
In 2023, 19% of companies in the Czech Republic with 10 or more employees made sales through their own website or mobile app, slightly surpassing the EU average of 18%. Malta (31%) and Ireland (30%) have the highest proportion of companies with their own sales platforms.
Additionally, Czech companies are increasingly selling goods and services via online marketplaces. In 2023, 8% of Czech companies used this distribution method, compared to the EU average of 9%. Lithuania leads with 35% of companies using online marketplaces, which are particularly popular in the tourism sector.
Rising Use of Artificial Intelligence in Czech Companies
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) by companies in the Czech Republic with more than 10 employees rose from 6% in 2023 to 11% in 2024. Despite this growth, the country still falls short of the EU27 average of 13%. Denmark leads the EU in AI adoption, with 28% of companies using these technologies, followed by Belgium and Sweden, where around a quarter of companies are using AI. Romania (3%) has the lowest adoption rate. Larger companies are more likely to implement AI: In both the Czech Republic and across the EU, 41% of large companies were using AI in 2024, while in Finland, this figure is 70%. Common AI applications include advanced word processing, text and speech generation, and machine learning.
However, as digitalisation increases, so do cyberattacks. In 2023, 22% of companies in the EU reported at least one cybersecurity incident; in the Czech Republic, this figure was 27%. Finland had the highest proportion of affected companies (42%), followed by Poland (32%). In contrast, only 12% of companies in Slovakia and Austria experienced security threats. Across the EU, 19% of companies faced incidents that resulted in the unavailability of IT services.
