Klarna’s revenue per employee soars to nearly $1M thanks to AI efficiency push | TechCrunch
May 20, 2025 - techcrunch.com
Last year, Klarna initiated a major shift by integrating AI systems developed with OpenAI into its operations, ending its contract with Salesforce CRM and reducing hiring. This move has significantly boosted efficiency, with the company now on track to achieve $1 million in revenue per employee, up from $575,000 the previous year. The most notable financial benefit has been the reduction in customer service costs, as Klarna replaced nearly 700 customer service contractors with AI chatbots. However, the company recently reintroduced the option for customers to speak with human agents.
In March, Klarna filed for a U.S. IPO but postponed it due to market volatility following President Trump's tariff announcement. Despite a 13% increase in revenue to $701 million in Q1 2025, Klarna has not provided a new timeline for its IPO plans.
Key takeaways:
Klarna has significantly increased its reliance on AI, ending its contract with Salesforce CRM and reducing hiring efforts.
The company aims to reach $1 million in revenue per employee, up from $575,000 per worker the previous year.
Klarna's AI initiatives have notably reduced customer service costs, although customers can now choose to speak with human agents again.
Klarna postponed its U.S. IPO plans due to market volatility caused by President Trump's tariff announcement, despite a 13% revenue increase in Q1 2025.
