smes – AI Ireland

Get ready for an exciting and transformative event as Local Enterprise Week 2024 kicks off at the Salesforce Tower in Dublin.

On Monday, the 4th of March, join LEO Dublin City for an event that promises to equip business owners and managers with the tools and insights needed to embrace the fearless potential of Artificial Intelligence and turn challenges into opportunities.

Event Details:

Venue: Salesforce Tower Dublin, Spencer Place, North Wall Quay, Dublin 1, D01 W2Y3

Date: 04/03/2024

Time: 09:45 – 12:45

Master of Ceremonies: Guiding us through this engaging event is Allyson English, Co-Founder, and Managing Director of Jigsaw Better for Business. With over 30 years of expertise in finance and management roles, Allyson is known for her structured yet engaging approach in supporting clients to achieve their best.

Agenda

09:45 – 10:10: Arrival/Registration/Refreshments

Get settled in and connect with fellow attendees over some refreshments.

10:10 – 10:15: MC Allyson English

Allyson takes the stage, setting the tone for an insightful and transformative event.

10:15 – 10:25: Welcome by Minister Neale Richmond

Join Minister Neale Richmond as he officially launches Local Enterprise Week 2024 for Dublin City.

10:25 – 10:35: Greg Swift, LEO Dublin City Head of Enterprise

Gain valuable insights from Greg Swift, Head of Enterprise at LEO Dublin City.

10:35 – 10:50: Salesforce Executive

Explore the role of AI in business with a presentation from a Salesforce Executive.

10:50 – 11:05: Kasia Oelofse – Jigsaw

Better for Business Discover the power of Lean for Business with Kasia Oelofse, Lean and Six Sigma professional. Engage in fireside chats with Lean Consultants throughout the session.

11:05 – 11:30: Networking and Refreshments

Network with industry professionals and fellow entrepreneurs over refreshments.

11:30 – 12:45: Fearless AI Session with Mark Kelly

Don’t miss the highlight of the event – an interactive session with AI Ireland’s own Mark Kelly. Dive into the world of AI as Mark discusses “Fearless AI: Transforming SME Challenges into Opportunities in 2024”.

Gain practical insights into implementing AI, overcoming challenges, and mitigating risks. Learn how AI can enhance productivity, giving you more time to focus on other aspects of your business or enjoy personal time with family.

As Local Enterprise Week 2024 unfolds, seize the opportunity to embrace the fearless potential of AI. Join us at Salesforce Tower for a day of enlightenment, networking, and practical insights that will empower you to transform challenges into opportunities in 2024. Don’t miss this chance to stay ahead in the ever-evolving business landscape. See you there!

AI Unleashed: Navigating the AI Revolution

Accessible for purchase on Amazon, AI Ireland’s latest book “AI Unleashed: Navigating the AI Revolution,” is your must read for 2024. For executives, policy architects or technology aficionados seeking to make sense of the intricate world of AI, “AI Unleashed: Navigating the AI Revolution” is your essential handbook. Available on Amazon Kindle or hard copy, this book furnishes you with the expertise and instruments required to employ AI both effectively and ethically.

Book an AI Presentation with AI Ireland today

Discover tailored presentations designed to meet the unique needs of your industry. Gain invaluable insights into the transformative power of AI technologies, ensuring your organisation stays ahead of the curve. Equip your team and stakeholders with the knowledge they need to confidently embrace the future.

Don’t miss the chance to enlighten your team and explore how innovation is positively impacting your industry. Secure your presentation now!

AI is revolutionizing businesses of all sizes, including Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs). In this blog, we delve into the opportunities and challenges SMB’s encounter when implementing AI, offering practical advice to guide them on their AI journey.

Section 1: The Current State of AI in SMBs

A recent study from Deloitte and Stanford University reveals that 25% of small businesses are currently using AI in some form, such as chatbots, predictive analytics and marketing automation. This indicates that AI is becoming increasingly accessible and relevant for SMBs. However, it also suggests that a significant proportion of SMBs are yet to tap into the potential of AI, highlighting the need for more education and support in this area.

Another survey conducted by Constant Contact in conjunction with market research firm Ascend, as reported in Forbes, shows that 91% of small businesses using AI indicate that it has made their business more successful. This underscores the fact that AI is not just for large businesses anymore. The study also found a strong correlation between a small company’s use of AI and its overall success.

Section 2: The Benefits of AI for SMBs

AI offers a multitude of benefits for SMBs, transforming various aspects of their operations.

Subsection 2.1: Streamlining and Automating Processes

AI can automate routine tasks, freeing up time for employees to focus on more strategic activities. This can lead to significant efficiency gains and cost savings. In fact, 28% of respondents in the Constant Contact survey expect AI to save them at least $5000 over the next 12 months.

Subsection 2.2: Enhancing Productivity and Innovation

AI can provide insights and recommendations based on data analysis, leading to more innovative solutions and increased productivity. Russ Morton, Chief Product Officer of Constant Contact, emphasizes the breakthroughs in natural language processing and large language models, allowing two-way dialogue with algorithms, thereby shifting the way technology processes data and creates content.

Subsection 2.3: Improving Work Quality and Saving Time

AI can help improve the quality of work by reducing errors and improving consistency. It can also save time by speeding up processes and providing instant responses to customer queries. The biggest advantages reported by small business owners include saving time, reducing manual mistakes and fostering faster growth.

Section 3: Challenges of Implementing AI in SMBs

While AI offers significant benefits, implementing it in SMBs can also present challenges.

Subsection 3.1: Lack of Resources

SMBs often have limited resources, which can make it difficult to invest in AI technology and expertise.

Subsection 3.2: Data Privacy and Security Concerns

Implementing AI often involves processing large amounts of data, which can raise data privacy and security concerns.

Subsection 3.3: Skills Gap and Learning Curve

Implementing AI requires specific skills and expertise, which may not be readily available in SMBs. The perceived cost, the learning curve, and a beginner’s understanding of AI benefits are among the top obstacles for those interested in AI but are not currently using it.

Section 4: AI Applications for SMBs

AI can be applied in various ways in SMBs, offering significant benefits.

Subsection 4.1: Customer Service Automation

With the use of chatbots and customer service automation, businesses can offer faster and more efficient customer service. For instance, 1-800-Flowers, a floral retailer, successfully incorporates AI-powered chatbots to improve customer service and boost sales.

Subsection 4.2: Personalized Marketing

AI-driven personalised marketing campaigns can help build stronger connections with customers and increase brand loyalty. Stitch Fix, an online personal styling service, leverages AI algorithms to analyze customer preferences, style profiles and feedback, curating personalised clothing selections for each individual.

Subsection 4.3: E-commerce and Inventory Management

AI has played a crucial role in helping businesses transition to e-commerce, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using natural language processing and autocomplete suggestions, AI can translate customer searches to deliver the desired products and services. Intelligent product recommendations use data from a customer’s browsing habits, searches and previous purchases to offer suggestions, enhancing the shopping experience.

Section 5: Practical AI Applications in Specific Small Business Scenarios

Subsection 5.1: Inventory Management for a Family-Owned Takeaway Outlet

A small family-owned takeaway outlet can leverage AI to optimise its inventory management. By analysing sales data, the outlet can identify top-selling food and beverages and the specific days they are most purchased. This data-driven approach can help in forecasting demand, ensuring that popular items are always in stock while reducing wastage from unsold perishables. For instance, a takeaway outlet in New York used AI analytics to discover that their vegan options were selling out faster on Mondays, coinciding with the “Meatless Monday” trend. By preparing more vegan dishes on Mondays and promoting them, they were able to boost sales and customer satisfaction.

Subsection 5.2: Stock Management for a T-Shirt Shop Using Computer Vision

A shop selling t-shirts can employ AI-powered computer vision to streamline its stock management. With cameras and AI algorithms, the system can scan shelves to detect which products are running low or are out of stock. This real-time monitoring eliminates the need for manual stock-taking, ensuring that popular designs and sizes are always available for customers.

Furthermore, computer vision can assist in theft prevention. If a t-shirt is removed from the shelf and not paid for, the system can alert the staff, adding an extra layer of security. A boutique t-shirt store in San Francisco implemented an AI-driven computer vision system, which not only helped them keep their inventory up-to-date but also identified patterns in customer preferences. For instance, the system detected that graphic tees with vintage designs were frequently picked up and examined by customers, especially during the summer months. Leveraging this insight, the store introduced more vintage designs, leading to increased sales.

Conclusion

AI can substantially affect the SME business environment, enhancing efficiency, reducing red tape, securing digital infrastructure, improving access to finance, easing skills management and job matching, and reducing the costs of experimentation. However, to fully reap these benefits, SMBs need to overcome the challenges associated with AI implementation and develop a clear and effective AI strategy. With the right approach and support, SMBs can harness the power of AI to drive growth and innovation.

This article is an excerpt from our upcoming book, AI for Executives, which you can pre-order now.

Early Bird Tickets Now on Sale for the 2023 AI Awards.

The fifth annual AI Awards takes place on Tuesday November 21st at the Gibson Hotel. This is an exciting opportunity to connect and network with over 200 AI and Data professionals across the island of Ireland and hear from some of the most exciting AI applications across industry and academia spanning 12 award categories.

Don’t miss the opportunity to get your discounted Early Bird tickets now! Head over to aiawards.ie/tickets or Eventbrite and enter the discount code EarlyBird_AIA to get your ticket for just €100. Limited tickets available; Original price €239.