Handing Over the Reins: Will AI Be Running Our SMEs Soon?

I've run SMEs for the past decade.

Not all have succeeded.

All of them have been tough as hell.

Wherever I was, day or night. Concerns over investors, employees, invoices and bugs were my constant companions. I had a front row seat to an horrific, never ending symphony. A cacophony that would make Wagner wince, as competing issues made up their own percussion ensemble.

Bang, bang, bang.

Sleep, health, relationships suffered.

SMEs are hard.

But what if they weren't?

What if each of those challenges could be replaced or augmented with AI. Would I, and perhaps you, finally be able to switch off?

In principle, as a small business owner, you probably fall into one of two camps regarding AI. Like me, you might fantasise about being able to kick back, put your feet up, and let an AI take the helm.

For others, the fear of losing control, entrusting computers or just the range of known unknowns may simply be too off putting.

On the one hand, AI doesn't need sleep, it doesn't take holidays, and it certainly won't be caught skiving off to the pub during work hours. "Beep, beep... hiccough".

As costs of employment soar, could AI be just the ticked to make better use of the resources we have. Support our people to do more, reduce the mundane and unleash true potential. Or is it more noise, adding to our mental orchestra?

Lets do a quick sense check.

Currently, AI is a pretty nifty tool when it comes to tasks like data analysis, customer service, and even some basic decision-making.

Here are a few ways AI is already revolutionising SME operations:

• Automating Repetitive Tasks: AI can automate tedious tasks such as data entry, customer service, and bookkeeping, freeing up valuable time for employees to focus on more strategic activities[1][3][4].
• Data Analysis: AI-powered analytics tools can quickly and accurately process large amounts of data, identifying trends or patterns that would be invisible to the human eye. This helps SMEs make better decisions about product development, pricing strategies, or marketing tactics[1][3][4].
• Customer Service: AI-powered chatbots can provide 24/7 customer support without the need for additional personnel. These chatbots can respond more quickly than human agents, improving customer satisfaction and reducing labour costs[1][3][4].
• Content Creation: Generative AI tools powered by Large Language Model (LLM) providers like OpenAI , 谷歌 , Perplexity , Anthropic Anthropic and more can help with content creation, generating blogs, whitepapers, or even short email marketing campaigns. While the quality can vary, AI can certainly provide a solid outline or draft to work from[3].

All of this can be done on taisk.com , check out TAISK for more info.

What AI Will Be Able to Do Soon

As AI technology continues to evolve, we can expect even more sophisticated capabilities, faster and cheaper:

• Advanced Decision-Making: Future AI agents will be capable of more complex decision-making, such as managing finances, handling marketing strategies, and even predicting market trends with higher accuracy. These agents will use predictive analytics to identify new opportunities for sales growth or cost savings[1][2][4].
• Agentic AI: At TAISK Labs , we are working on creating agentic AI that can perform tasks that typically require a lot of resources. These AI agents will be able to execute actions in other systems and apps, streamlining workflows and automating tasks across numerous industries. Imagine an AI that can book appointments, manage emails, and even negotiate deals with clients – all while maintaining that charming robot personality.
• Human Capital Management: AI will integrate with human capital management software to streamline content creation, provide in-depth analytics on talent management, and optimize hiring processes. This will help SMEs make better decisions about their workforce and improve overall productivity[2].
• Supply Chain and Procurement: AI will predict customer demand more accurately, increase production efficiency, and automate the buying process while maintaining compliance with internal and external controls. This will mitigate risks and improve overall supply chain management[2].

The Future of SMEs with AI

While AI is not yet ready to take over the corner office, it is undoubtedly a powerful tool that can significantly enhance business operations. By automating routine tasks, improving decision-making, and optimizing workflows, AI agents can free human employees to focus on more complex and creative tasks.

However, before you start planning your early retirement, remember that AI still lacks the human touch.

It can't come up with the next ground-breaking product idea or inspire your team with a rousing motivational speech. But who knows? In a few years' time, you might be reporting to an AI boss who's always online, never forgets a deadline, and has a penchant for telling binary jokes. Stranger things have happened.

So, can you pack your swimmers and hand over the keys to your AI?

No, we're not quite there yet, the future where AI agents work alongside humans to deliver better outcomes is definitely on the horizon. Like any journey, if you start exploring now you'll get there, wherever there is, sooner.

So, go ahead and explore the world of AI - create a free account on taisk.com - it might just become your new best friend in the business world.

[1] https://paintedbrain.org/blog/editorial/ai-powered-entrepreneur-development-how-ai-is-helping-grow-small-businesses

[2] https://news.sap.com/africa/2024/03/how-smes-can-transform-their-business-with-ai/

[3] https://www.365finance.co.uk/insights/ai-for-smes-6-beneficial-uses/

[4] https://www.myob.com/nz/blog/unlocking-the-power-of-artificial-intelligence-for-smes/

[5] https://www.uschamber.com/technology/enhancing-entrepreneurship-ais-big-impact-on-small-business