In my previous article, I discussed the strategic direction businesses should take. However, as an SME, you might be unsure where to begin, making it easy to hesitate about changes and the necessary first steps. If that’s you, read on.
Educate and Train:
Empower your team by providing them with knowledge about AI and its potential benefits. Consider workshops or online courses (on prompt engineering) to build their understanding and confidence, making them feel more capable in the face of technological changes.
Assess Current Operations:
Look at processes within your functions to identify specific areas where implementing an AI process can save time, increase efficiency and add value, such as in customer service or marketing processes.
Start Small:
Consider a pilot project using an AI tool that requires minimal investment/resources or time to test its effectiveness. Some organisations that started using ChatGPT or Perplexity began to see that simple prompts could save time.
They began to see how easy it was to implement and started using it from a perspective of resources, time, scalability, and compatibility with their existing systems.
The disruption was minimal. Many clients have been surprised by the tools’ significant time savings and improved efficiency. The challenge, however, is overcoming the resistance to change.
Engage Stakeholders:
Recognise that change is a collective effort, and involving employees, customers, and other stakeholders is crucial. Their insights can help shape how AI is implemented, making them feel more involved and integral to the process.
Seek Expert Guidance:
Remember, you don’t have to navigate this journey alone. Consider consulting with someone who can help you understand what you need to do and your first steps relative to your business needs, providing you with reassurance and guidance.
Measure and Adjust:
Continuously measure impact, gather feedback from employees, and adjust as necessary, encouraging an iterative approach to technology adoption.
Research and Select Appropriate Tools
Relative to your business, assign someone responsible for doing a project on available AI solutions for companies in your sector.
Factors to consider include budget, ease of implementation, scalability, and compatibility with existing systems. Engage with other business owners or industry peers to learn about their experiences and recommendations.
Competitive Advantage:
A critical assessment will be: What competitive advantage will be implementing AI give you? Or are you just following the trends/scaremongering? Decide what competitive advantage you want. One element in adapting AI; you can compete more effectively against larger firms by streamlining your operations and improving customer service delivery.
By taking these steps, you can gradually adapt and implement AI in your business, reducing fear and increasing confidence in leveraging technology for your business’s growth.
