French trends 2024-2025: what opportunities for Quebec SMEs?

In 2024-2025, French SMBs are undergoing an accelerated digital transformation: artificial intelligence, automation, cybersecurity and e-commerce are redefining their business models. For Quebec SMEs, these “French trends” are much more than a news bulletin: they’re a full-scale laboratory for anticipating challenges, copying what works and avoiding costly mistakes. While France is still adopting AI in a cautious but structured way, Quebec is experiencing a rapid rise in automation and artificial intelligence, with already 12.7% of companies using AI for production purposes in the second quarter of 2025, according to the Institut de la statistique du Québec([statistique.quebec.ca](https://statistique.quebec.ca/fr/document/intelligence-artificielle-entreprises-quebec?utm_source=openai)). At the same time, cybercrime is exploding, affecting over 60% of Quebec SMEs([transportroutier.ca](https://www.transportroutier.ca/nouvelles/60-des-pme-du-quebec-touchees-par-la-cybercriminalite-en-2023/?utm_source=openai)). Against this backdrop, an analysis of French trends in 2024-2025 will enable Quebec SME managers to build a more robust, profitable and secure digital strategy.

1. AI and automation: combining the French experience and Quebec’s dynamism

In France, recent studies show that the adoption of artificial intelligence is still relatively cautious, with less than half of companies having invested in these technologies, with stronger adoption among large companies and in technology sectors([lemonde.fr](https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2025/02/06/l-intelligence-artificielle-dans-les-entreprises-francaises-une-adoption-a-pas-comptes_6533799_3234.html?utm_source=openai)). French SMEs are therefore taking small steps forward: they are testing concrete use cases (customer service, marketing, HR, sales forecasting) while facing similar obstacles to those of Quebec SMEs: lack of in-house expertise, difficulty in identifying the right use cases and fears linked to data security.

In Quebec, a complementary trend can be observed: according to an analysis by the Institut de la statistique du Québec, 12.7 % of Quebec companies were already using AI for production purposes in the 12 months prior to the second quarter of 2025([statistique.quebec.ca](https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/produit/publication/adoption-et-utilisation-intelligence-artificielle-entreprises-au-quebec-2024-2025?utm_source=openai)). At the same time, a report by the Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie points out that, by 2024, 85 % of employers encourage or impose the use of generative AI to improve productivity([economie.gouv.qc.ca](https://www.economie.gouv.qc.ca/objectifs/informer/vecteurs/vecteurs-economie-et-innovation-detail/lintelligence-artificielle-generative-ameliore-t-elle-la-productivite-des-entreprises?utm_source=openai)). In other words, Quebec is in an acceleration phase, with strong pressure on productivity and increasing use of AI, while France is progressing in a more measured but framed way.

For a Quebec SME, the opportunity lies in combining these two dynamics:

• Draw on French caution to structure AI projects: clear framing of objectives, choice of targeted use cases, risk and data management.
• Capitalize on the Quebec context, where public authorities are already encouraging the adoption of AI and industrial automation([quebec.ca](https://www.quebec.ca/nouvelles/actualites/details/nouveau-rapport-sur-la-situation-de-lautomatisation-dans-les-pme-quebecoises-investir-dans-lautomatisation-un-accelerateur-de-productivite-pour-les-pme-du-quebec-66372?utm_source=openai)), to access local support, programs and expertise.
• Start with quick wins: automate repetitive tasks, implement chatbots and AI solutions for customer service, or use AI to better qualify leads and personalize offers.

A Quebec report on SME automation highlights that 81% of companies investing in automation are doing so primarily for productivity, up from 66% in 2023, and 62% for profitability, up from 39% two years earlier([quebec.ca](https://www.quebec.ca/nouvelles/actualites/details/nouveau-rapport-sur-la-situation-de-lautomatisation-dans-les-pme-quebecoises-investir-dans-lautomatisation-un-accelerateur-de-productivite-pour-les-pme-du-quebec-66372?utm_source=openai)). Looking at France, where AI is seen as a gradual transformation requiring training and acculturation([lemonde.fr](https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2025/02/06/l-intelligence-artificielle-dans-les-entreprises-francaises-une-adoption-a-pas-comptes_6533799_3234.html?utm_source=openai)), a Quebec SME can structure its own plan: map manual processes, prioritize quick wins, then ramp up complexity with expert support.

In concrete terms, a Quebec SME can, with a partner like Nuaweb, deploy AI assistants to answer customers 24/7, automate part of the sales follow-up via an AI-connected CRM, or use predictive models to better plan inventory. The important thing is not to implement AI everywhere, but to deploy it where it generates a measurable return.

2. Cybersecurity: risks on the rise, lessons to be learned from the French market

French executives identify cybersecurity as one of their main sources of concern in 2025, even ahead of certain geopolitical and trade tensions([lemonde.fr](https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2025/06/13/la-cybersecurite-est-la-principale-source-d-inquietude-des-entreprises-francaises-selon-une-etude_6612719_3234.html?utm_source=openai)). This concern doesn’t come from nowhere: the rate of police-reported cybercrimes in Canada more than doubled between 2018 and 2024, rising from 91.9 to 225.1 cybercrimes per 100,000 people([statcan.gc.ca](https://www.statcan.gc.ca/o1/fr/plus/8764-la-journee-de-la-securite-informatique-se-vit-au-quotidien?utm_source=openai)). SMEs, which are often less well protected than large corporations, are particularly at risk.

In Quebec, the figures speak for themselves: a KPMG survey shows that 63% of SMEs surveyed have been attacked by cybercriminals in the past year, and over 60% do not consider cybersecurity an operational priority([kpmg.com](https://kpmg.com/ca/fr/home/media/press-releases/2023/10/cyber-crime-strikes-more-than-six-in-ten-quebec-companies.html?utm_source=openai)). Even more worryingly, 74% of SMBs acknowledge that their legacy systems and infrastructure leave them vulnerable, and 65% believe they do not have the qualified personnel to implement a cybersecurity solution([kpmg.com](https://kpmg.com/ca/fr/home/media/press-releases/2023/10/cyber-crime-strikes-more-than-six-in-ten-quebec-companies.html?utm_source=openai)).

French trends 2024-2025 place great emphasis on the implementation of comprehensive cybersecurity strategies: risk mapping, employee training, system segmentation and the integration of security from the design stage (“security by design” approach). These best practices are particularly relevant for Quebec SMEs as they accelerate their digital transformation (AI, e-commerce, teleworking, cloud tools).

For a Quebec SME, three major opportunities stand out:

• Modernize your systems: in France, the emphasis is on the progressive replacement of legacy systems, which increase the attack surface. For an SME in Quebec, redesigning its website or online store with a modern, secure web architecture greatly reduces the risks.
• Integrate cybersecurity with CRM and AI: encryption of customer data, strict access management, monitoring of suspicious connections. A well-configured CRM becomes a pillar of protection for sensitive information.
• Training teams: in France as in Quebec, a large proportion of incidents are due to human error. Putting simple procedures in place (password management, checking suspicious e-mails, regular backups) is a quick and inexpensive way of leveraging this knowledge.

By drawing inspiration from French approaches, while taking into account the local context (rapid rise in cybercrimes and lack of internal resources), Quebec SMEs can transform cybersecurity from a cost item into a real competitive advantage: a secure company is a more reliable company for its customers and partners.

3. E-commerce and customer experience: the French lead that Quebec can learn from

The French e-commerce market is one of the most mature in Europe, with a high level of consumer expectations: fluid purchasing paths, multiple delivery options, optimized mobile experience and responsive customer service. French SMEs have had to rapidly adapt their online stores to remain competitive with the web giants. This pressure has accelerated the adoption of best practices: detailed product sheets, personalized recommendations, secure payment, omnichannel integration between physical and online stores.

In Canada and Quebec, the pandemic has also been a major catalyst for e-commerce, but many SMEs are still halfway through their digital transformation. French trends for 2024-2025 point to the widespread use of :

• Personalization through AI (recommended products, automatically relaunched baskets, content adapted to the user’s profile).
• Centralization of customer data via CRMs connected to e-commerce for better tracking of purchase history and after-sales service.
• Omnichannel pathways: online purchasing, in-store pick-up, simplified returns, real-time order tracking.

For Quebec SMEs, this maturity of French e-commerce represents a mine of inspiration. By observing French standards, it becomes easier to define realistic investment priorities:

• Overhaul an aging online store with a modern, secure and mobile-friendly platform, for example by working with a partner specializing in online store creation.
• Connect the store to a sales CRM to track leads, abandoned shopping baskets and marketing campaigns.
• Add an AI virtual assistant or chatbot to answer frequently asked questions, reduce customer service workload and increase conversion rates.

French studies also emphasize that AI-related productivity gains remain conditional on a gradual, structured transformation, rather than massive rollouts([lemonde.fr](https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2025/02/06/l-intelligence-artificielle-dans-les-entreprises-francaises-une-adoption-a-pas-comptes_6533799_3234.html?utm_source=openai)). Quebec SMEs can therefore adopt a step-by-step approach: start with simple automations (shopping cart relaunches, automatic contact segmentation, preconfigured customer service responses), measure results, then scale up.

A site or boutique that is inspired by the best French standards, but designed for the Quebec market and business culture, becomes a concrete lever for growth: more sales, better customer loyalty and a more professional brand image.

4. Integrated digital strategy: transforming trends into action plans for Quebec SMEs

French trends 2024-2025 have one thing in common: they are part of an integrated vision of digital transformation. AI, e-commerce, CRM, cybersecurity and automation are no longer isolated projects, but components of a single strategy geared towards productivity, resilience and customer experience. In Quebec, a recent report on automation in SMEs reminds us that productivity, profitability and labor shortages have become the three main drivers of technology projects([quebec.ca](https://www.quebec.ca/nouvelles/actualites/details/nouveau-rapport-sur-la-situation-de-lautomatisation-dans-les-pme-quebecoises-investir-dans-lautomatisation-un-accelerateur-de-productivite-pour-les-pme-du-quebec-66372?utm_source=openai)). For SMEs, the challenge is not simply to adopt this or that tool, but to build a coherent ecosystem.

In concrete terms, a strategy inspired by French best practice could follow the following steps:

• Diagnose digital maturity: take stock of website, CRM, sales processes, customer support and system security. Identify bottlenecks (manual tasks, duplication, input errors, customer waiting times).
• Define 3 to 5 priority objectives: increase conversion rate, reduce customer response time, automate part of the sales process, secure sensitive data, etc.
• Choose the right technological levers: redesign or enhance the site via a website design expert, integrate a CRM, add targeted AI tools (chatbots, product recommendations, lead scoring).
• Integrate cybersecurity right from the design stage: access management, automated backups, regular updates, connection monitoring and team awareness.
• Measure, adjust, iterate: monitor clear indicators (sales, customer satisfaction, processing times, security incidents) and adjust strategy every 3 to 6 months.

French examples show that SMEs that succeed in their digital transformation are those that :

• have a clear and shared vision of digital objectives;
• structure their projects (prioritization, budget, timetable) rather than multiplying isolated initiatives;
• rely on specialized partners to make up for the lack of in-house expertise.

For a Quebec-based SME, the benefits of drawing inspiration from French trends are twofold: benefiting from the hindsight of a highly competitive market, while adapting solutions to the local context (regulations, language, culture and the specific expectations of Quebec consumers). With a partner like Nuaweb, who is as active inartificial intelligence and chatbots as it is in e-commerce, CRM management and web design, it’s possible to move from theoretical reflection on “French trends” to a concrete, measurable action plan.

Conclusion: turn French trends into a gas pedal for your Quebec SME

French trends 2024-2025 show one thing: companies that take AI, cybersecurity, e-commerce and automation seriously gain in productivity, resilience and attractiveness. For their part, Quebec data confirms the urgency to act: only 12.7% of companies use AI for production purposes([statistique.quebec.ca](https://statistique.quebec.ca/fr/document/intelligence-artificielle-entreprises-quebec?utm_source=openai)), while 63% of SMEs have suffered a cyber attack in the past year([transportroutier.ca](https://www.transportroutier.ca/nouvelles/60-des-pme-du-quebec-touchees-par-la-cybercriminalite-en-2023/?utm_source=openai)). Between opportunities and risks, standing still is no longer an option.

The good news is that you don’t have to transform everything at once. By drawing inspiration from the most relevant French practices and leveraging the resources and programs available in Quebec, an SME can move forward in stages: clarifying its digital strategy, modernizing its website and online store, connecting a CRM, adding a layer of AI where the value is strongest, and strengthening its cybersecurity.

If you would like to :

• assess your SME’s digital maturity ;
• identify the most profitable AI, e-commerce or CRM projects for your business ;
• build an action plan inspired by the best French trends, but adapted to the Quebec market;

Nuaweb’s team can support you from strategic thinking to technical implementation. Schedule a free consultation with Nuaweb today and turn the French trends of 2024-2025 into concrete competitive advantages for your Quebec SME.