AI


Measure the result AI adoption should not be driven by novelty. SMEs need to establish whether an application is actually delivering value. Tat means defining measurable outcomes. Possible measures


include hours saved each week, reductions in processing time, or reductions in errors. Tese measures provide a practical way to assess return on


investment and decide whether an AI application should be kept or abandoned. Measurement is particularly important where employees are


introducing AI while reporting to managers. Without clear evidence of an improvement, it can be difficult to demonstrate that an investment is delivering a meaningful return.


Addressing the myths Despite growing awareness of AI’s potential, concerns remain among SME owners and employees. One of the most common fears is that AI will replace people,


SMEs can move quickly Compared with larger organisations, SMEs typically have fewer layers of management and shorter decision-making processes. Tey still face the same legal and security requirements, but


implementing new technology can be more straightforward. An SME owner may simultaneously take responsibility for areas such as departmental management, IT, legal and finance, allowing decisions to be made without the multiple stages of approval oſten found in larger organisations. Employees may also work more closely together, meaning


feedback can reach decision-makers quickly. For larger businesses, introducing AI can involve formal


governance, risk assessments and pilot programmes. An SME can oſten identify a problem, assess a potential solution and decide whether to proceed with considerably less organisational friction. Tat agility can be a significant advantage as AI technology continues to develop.


Where should an SME start? Te temptation is to try to automate everything at once, but that’s rarely the best approach. Start small. Begin with manual, repetitive tasks that are simple,


but require time investment from you or your employees. Great examples are summarising meetings, entering data, or processing invoices. Each of these activities takes a significant amount of time but are well suited to AI assistance. It’s best to avoid complex or critical projects to begin with, so risk is minimal. Don’t forget, the best use of AI is where it improves our lives.


Which tasks do you dread? More oſten than not, those are the menial, time-consuming tasks that you know take up precious time that should be spent on more productive, creative, or interesting activities. Prioritising high-frequency tasks will help business owners get the


most out of their AI from the outset. A task that takes five minutes but is performed 200 times a week will undoubtedly offer a better return than one that takes two hours but is performed only once a month.


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leading to resistance, anxiety, and ultimately job losses. For SMEs, however, the more immediate opportunity is to use


AI to augment employees rather than replace them, making their working lives easier by removing repetitive tasks. Employees should therefore be involved in identifying where AI


could be useful. Tey understand the day-to-day pain points of their roles and can help identify processes where automation could make the greatest difference. Tere is also a perception that AI is primarily a technology for large


companies with substantial budgets. In practice, some of the strongest early opportunities for SMEs involve relatively simple applications, where useful returns can be achieved without a major overhaul. Another concern is accuracy. AI can make mistakes, particularly


when it is poorly implemented, inadequately reviewed or supplied with poor-quality information. AI is not a magic solution. Its usefulness depends on the quality of


the inputs and the way the system is implemented. Outputs should therefore be reviewed, particularly when AI is being used to support important business decisions. Human approval remains essential. For SMEs moving beyond


straightforward, off-the-shelf AI applications, specialist technical expertise may also be worthwhile to ensure that systems are implemented appropriately. For SMEs, some of the most valuable opportunities are likely to


come from addressing everyday, repetitive challenges. By reducing the administrative burden, AI can allow employees to devote more time to the creative, analytical and specialist work that drives the business forward. Te best starting point is therefore not the technology itself, but the


problem. Identify the processes that consume employees’ time. Prioritise


those that occur frequently, then test a simple AI solution in a relatively low-risk area, establish measurable outcomes and use the results to determine what comes next. For SMEs across converting, packaging, printing and related


industries, that practical, measured approach could provide a more effective route into AI than attempting wholesale automation from day one.


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