The small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) market continues to undergo a radical transformation, primarily driven by the growing integration of digital technologies, notably artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing. These technologies offer unprecedented opportunities to enhance operational efficiency and competitiveness for SMEs. However, they also introduce significant challenges in terms of cybersecurity and regulatory compliance. In Europe, the AI Act imposes new governance obligations, while French SMEs face difficulties in moving beyond the proof of concept (POC) stage in their AI projects. Spain remains a benchmark in digitization and AI, providing valuable lessons for European SMEs.