Artificial Intelligence Adoption in SMEs: Survey Based on TOE–DOI Framework, Primary Methodology and Challenges

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The article addresses the relevant topic of artificial intelligence implementation in small and medium enterprises. The work is clear, understandable, and well-structured, providing a detailed description of the conceptual model that combines TOE and DOI approaches to evaluate barriers and opportunities in AI implementation.

Weaknesses and Recommendations for Improvement:

1. The article appears more like a review paper rather than an empirical research study. It would be advisable to clearly state this at the beginning of the work and possibly expand the analysis with empirical studies or practical cases that include quantitative data.

2. The article lacks sufficient graphical material. It is recommended to add visualizations such as:

• Diagrams of AI implementation processes, indicating key stages and obstacles.

• Comparative tables with quantitative performance indicators for different AI technologies and implementation approaches.

• Graphical schemes illustrating the integration of the TOE–DOI model into specific business processes.

3. The number of analyzed studies is insufficient. It is recommended to expand the range of empirical studies reviewed and analyze their outcomes more thoroughly. Include additional examples of successful and unsuccessful practices with quantitative performance indicators to enhance the practical applicability of conclusions.

4. Quantitative characteristics: To better understand future development prospects, it is advisable to present quantitative assessments of existing solutions' effectiveness, such as productivity growth rates in enterprises following AI implementation, cost reductions, and ROI indicators.

Conclusion: The article can be recommended for publication after addressing these recommendations, particularly by expanding the empirical base and strengthening the visual representation of the material.

Author Response

I update a file with response to reviewers

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Suggestions:

1. The research relies on literature synthesis and case integration. It lacks the support of original data (such as interviews with SMEs and questionnaires), which may weaken the empirical robustness of the conclusions. Or whether literature screening criteria (e.g., database, time frame, keywords) can be explicitly stated in the 'methodology' section to enhance transparency and reproducibility.
2. Some policies (such as "Lightweight governance" and "Modular deployment") are too abstract to be supported by concrete implementation steps or successful cases. Can you add specific tool or platform examples (such as low-code tool recommendations and comparing cloud service providers) to help the reader understand the details? Or bring in a real-world enterprise application case (such as an SME using open weights LLM for cost optimization) to make the case more compelling.
3. Discussion of open weights LLMs (e.g., DeepSeek-R1) has focused on technical advantages without an adequate analysis of their potential risks (e.g., model bias, deployment complexity).

 

Other detail tips:

1. Table 1(challenges and solutions matrix) can be further refined and prioritized using TOE dimensions.
2. Some preferences (e.g., more from 2021 and earlier) could complement the most recent three years (e.g., Gen-AI studies from 2023-2025).
3. Some long sentences are slightly redundant (e.g., subsection 4.9) and should be split and simplified.
4. Too many keywords

Author Response

I upload a file with answer to reviewers

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Thank you very much for your prompt and thorough consideration of my recommendations and the corrections you made. Your additions have significantly improved the quality of the manuscript. I wish you continued success in your publication and all your future research endeavours!