To what extent is AI already available for SMEs? Discover the 3 levels
Written by Jamie Schelling
Digital Marketing & AI Automation
When you think of Artificial Intelligence, you might picture big tech companies like Google or complex systems at multinationals. So the question ‘Is AI available for SMEs too?’ is a perfectly logical one. Many business owners think it is too expensive, too complicated or simply not meant for them.
The short answer? Yes, absolutely. In fact, AI is more accessible and more valuable for SMEs than ever before.
We will walk you through 3 uses of AI that are already available for your business, from simple tools you can use today to a strategic approach for the future.
The assistant that is available right now (and that you can try today)
The most accessible form of AI is the one most people already know: smart language models such as ChatGPT and Gemini. This is AI that you can use straight away, and often for free, in your internet browser. Think of it as your personal intern or sparring partner that you can put to work on all kinds of everyday, time-consuming tasks.
Recognisable examples:
- Drafting professional emails: Do you need to send a tricky email to an unhappy customer? Give the AI the core of your message and ask it to turn it into a professional, empathetic text.
- Coming up with social media content: No inspiration for your weekly LinkedIn post? Ask the AI to come up with 5 ideas that are relevant to your industry and target audience.
- Writing job adverts: Provide the job requirements and the company culture and let the AI generate an appealing, inclusive job advert.
The second way AI is available is perhaps the most surprising: chances are you are already paying for it every month without making full use of it. Many of your current software suppliers have built AI features directly into their programs. You often do not need to buy a new tool; you just need to know where to find the ‘AI button’.
Recognisable examples:
- In your accounting software: Tools such as Moneybird or Jortt use AI to scan your receipts and purchase invoices. The software automatically recognises the amounts, VAT and supplier and prepares them in your accounts. That is pure time saved.
- In your email marketing: Programs such as Mailchimp or ActiveCampaign use AI to help you write better subject lines or to predict the perfect send time for your newsletter.
- In your website tools: Within WordPress or Shopify there are countless AI plugins that can help you write or rewrite product descriptions or SEO copy, right in the environment where you already work.
The ‘hidden’ AI in the software you already use
The strategic step - Your own, trained AI
For businesses that want to take the next step in efficiency, professionalism and customer experience, there is a third level. This is not a generic tool trained on the whole internet, but an AI trained exclusively on the data, knowledge and processes of your own business.
The benefits are huge. Imagine:
- A chatbot on your website that can answer specific customer questions based on your own technical manuals or project information.
- An internal assistant that can generate a complete quote at the push of a button, entirely in your unique tone of voice, with the right prices and the correct terms.
- A market research project in which AI analyses all your data and competitor trends and tells you exactly where the improvements for your service or product lie.
That is the power of your own, trained AI. It is the ultimate way to automate your business processes while keeping your unique character and expertise.
AI is available, the question is where you start
So, is AI available to SMEs? Yes. At every level. Whether you start small with a simple question to ChatGPT, discover the hidden AI features in the software you already use, or think about a trained assistant of your own for the future.
The question is no longer whether it can be done, but which application adds the most value to your specific business and where you can start responsibly.
That is exactly where we help you. Want to find out which AI opportunities are the most relevant and achievable for your business processes? Get a BE Digital Scan done. We map out the possibilities for your SME and give you clear, no-nonsense advice.