Klarna, the Swedish fintech firm, has nearly doubled its revenue per employee in one year. The company attributes this gain to its deep integration of AI.
Last year, Klarna launched a major AI initiative. It replaced several manual processes with OpenAI systems built in-house.
This strategy reduced costs and increased output. As a result, Klarna now reports nearly $1 million in revenue per employee, up from $575,000 just a year ago.
The company also ended its contract with Salesforce CRM and scaled back hiring.
Customer Support Sees the Greatest Impact
The most significant savings came from customer service. Klarna had planned to replace almost 700 full-time contractors with AI chatbots. These bots now handle routine questions and support tasks.
Despite the success, Klarna recently allowed customers to speak with human agents again, following feedback from users who preferred personal interaction.
IPO Plans Paused
In March 2025, Klarna filed for a U.S. initial public offering. However, it paused these plans in April after President Trump’s tariff announcement, which triggered market volatility.
Although the company saw a 13% revenue increase in Q1 2025, reaching $701 million, it has not shared a new IPO timeline.
Klarna remains cautious because market conditions remain unstable. Therefore, the leadership may wait for a more favorable environment.
Internal Operations
Due to its AI integration, Klarna can do more with fewer people. However, machines still manage routine tasks like:
- Customer service: Bots handle standard requests
- CRM: Replaced Salesforce with AI-driven alternatives
- Workflow automation: AI performs data entry and task routing
- Staff support: Internal tools help employees complete tasks faster
