In 2025, AI agents have moved from technological promise to concrete operational tool. A growing number of Spanish companies — including SMEs — are deploying them to automate entire workflows, from customer service to order management, without human intervention.
According to the 2025 AI Barometer for SMEs, only 2.9% of Spanish SMEs have integrated AI into their processes, though this figure has grown 36% in the past year. The opportunity is enormous: companies that apply advanced analytics and AI to their processes are up to 45% more efficient than their competitors.
What Exactly Is an AI Agent?
An AI agent is a program that perceives its environment, makes decisions autonomously, and executes actions to achieve a goal. Unlike chatbots or language models that simply answer questions, an agent can chain multiple steps together: query a database, update an ERP, send an email, generate a report, and notify the responsible team — all sequentially and without constant supervision.
The key difference from traditional automation (RPA or macros) is that AI agents understand context. They can handle variations, exceptions, and natural language. If a customer writes 'I need to change my Tuesday order', the agent understands the intent, consults the necessary systems, and acts — or escalates if it lacks authorization.
Real Use Cases in Spanish Companies
24/7 Customer Service
Agents that manage enquiries, complaints, and returns across multiple channels without human intervention outside business hours.
Order Management
Automatic processing of purchase orders, stock verification, delivery confirmation, and supplier communication.
Financial Analysis
Automatic generation of treasury reports, detection of payment anomalies, and alerts on budget deviations.
HR Management
Onboarding automation, holiday tracking, detection of time-tracking incidents, and internal communications.
eCommerce and Sales
Real-time offer personalisation, abandoned cart management, and automated post-sale follow-up.
The Most Common Obstacle: Lack of Internal Readiness
47% of surveyed executives in Spain cite the lack of internal digital capabilities as the main barrier to AI adoption. This doesn't mean hiring a team of data scientists: it means the right technology partner can guide implementation, identify the processes with the greatest return, and train the team in day-to-day use.
SMEs that apply advanced analytics and artificial intelligence to their processes are up to 45% more efficient than their competitors.
Where to Start: The Pragmatic Approach
Grupo Unifema's recommendation is always to start with a specific process that has high volume, clear rules, and a measurable impact. There's no need to transform the entire company at once. An AI agent that handles incoming customer queries or automates quote generation can free up 15–20 hours per week for the sales team and pay for itself within months.
Want to know which of your business processes are ideal candidates for an AI agent? Contact our team .