Profiling the AI Readiness Baseline in Cambodia's Manufacturing SMEs

In Cambodia, firm level evidence on AI readiness remains limited, particularly for registered manufacturing SMEs, despite growing interest in digital transformation. To address this gap, Profiling the AI Readiness Baseline in Cambodia’s Manufacturing SMEs develops an empirical baseline of readiness and early adoption patterns among manufacturing SMEs.

The study applies a quantitative, cross sectional survey design, implemented between December 15 and 26, 2025 through structured interviews, and analyzes a cleaned sample of 273 enterprises. Readiness is examined as a set of operational foundations and constraints, including firms’ digital practices, data routines, AI awareness and perceptions, reported use of AI related tools, and barriers and support needs, organized across five readiness dimensions. The analysis is oriented around questions such as which foundational capabilities are in place, how SMEs manage and use data in routine operations, how decision makers interpret AI in relation to business needs, and what forms of support are most relevant for progressing from basic digitization toward effective adoption. Based on these results, the authors present stakeholder oriented recommendations and position the baseline as a reference point for monitoring progress and enabling comparison over time.