Why small ICT and finance firms are more optimistic than ever
The numbers tell a clear story. According to CBS data on digitalisation and the knowledge economy, 70% of ICT companies with 10 or more employees now use AI — significantly above the SME average. In financial services, that figure sits at 59%, still well ahead of most other sectors.
For small firms with 5-25 employees, this matters. It means your competitors are already moving. But it also means the tools, frameworks, and support structures are maturing fast — making now the right moment to act.
Three forces are driving this confidence:
- Agentic AI — autonomous AI agents that analyse customer behaviour, personalise advice, and even execute tasks on behalf of clients
- Embedded finance — ICT firms integrating financial features (payments, credit scoring, budgeting) directly into their platforms
- Regulatory clarity — the EU AI Act and Belgium's Digital Europe Programme (€204 million) are creating guardrails and funding opportunities simultaneously
The AFM Trendzicht 2026 report highlights how AI-driven personalisation in mortgage advice and claims handling is already boosting client accessibility by up to 25% for early adopters.
What does agentic AI actually mean for your firm?
Agentic AI is the shift from AI that answers questions to AI that takes action. Think of it as a digital colleague that monitors data, spots patterns, and responds — without waiting for a human to prompt it.
In practice, this looks like:
- A fintech firm using AI agents as "personal financial directors" that send proactive budgeting tips and flag suspicious transactions in real time (Riverty is already doing this in the Benelux)
- An IT consultancy running AI-powered fraud detection for a public-sector client, using synthetic data to train models without exposing real customer records
- An accounting firm automating credit risk assessments with AI tools that log every decision for EU AI Act compliance
For a 10-person ICT or finance firm, the realistic entry point isn't building your own models. It's integrating AI plugins into the tools you already use — your CRM, your invoicing software, your client portal.
The business case is concrete. Firms implementing AI in fraud detection are reporting 20-30% cost reductions. Those using AI personalisation see 15-25% improvements in client retention. And process optimisation through AI is delivering productivity gains of 30-40% in early case studies.
Three-quarters of CEOs in the sector expect ROI on AI and cloud investments within two years — a realistic timeline if you start focused and small.
How to get started: a practical 3-month roadmap
The biggest mistake small firms make is trying to boil the ocean. Start with one process, prove the value, then scale.
Here's what a phased approach looks like:
Month 1 — Audit and analyse
- Identify 1-2 processes where AI could save time or reduce errors (client onboarding, fraud checks, reporting)
- Assign one person as your internal AI champion — they don't need to be technical, just curious
- Explore EDIH hub support in Flanders — these European Digital Innovation Hubs offer hands-on guidance and co-funded pilots for SMEs
Month 2 — Pilot
- Test a low-code AI tool or plugin in your chosen process
- If you're in finance, look at AI-assisted credit scoring or personalised client communications
- If you're in ICT, explore synthetic data generation for testing and fraud modelling
- Budget for this phase: €5,000-€10,000 covers most initial pilots
Month 3 — Measure and scale
- Track your KPIs: time saved, error rate, client satisfaction
- Document your AI decision rules — this is not just good practice, it's a requirement under the EU AI Act
- If the pilot delivers, roll it out to the full team and start exploring the next process
A note on compliance: The EU AI Act is a challenge, but it's also a competitive signal. Firms that build transparent, auditable AI processes now will have a credibility advantage over those who bolt it on later. Weekly bias audits and decision logging from day one saves a much bigger headache later.
Your next step
AI and digitalisation are reshaping ICT and financial services in Belgium and the Netherlands — and 2026 is the year small firms either build that capability or fall behind. The good news: you don't need a big team or a big budget to start.
If you're ready to make sure your website and digital presence match the ambition of your AI strategy, Luniq builds professional websites for IT and financial service firms that generate real leads — not just traffic.
Useful resources