Importance of AI for Smbs

AI Agents will impact SMBs way more than Enterprise. Enterprises are scaled “centers of production” composed of people & technology to support complex global processes to make things. Already, enterprises have seen the benefits of “Digital Transformation”, investing in R&D to build software to support workflows and make better decisions. AI will profoundly impact enterprises, resulting in cheaper and faster production. But will it drive more top-line revenue? Let’s contrast this to SMBs. Classically an SMB differentiates vs. an enterprise on relationships & service. It’s simply unviable for an SMB to compete with enterprises on production. So, SMBs through grit, hustle, determination, & relationships build trust to establish a unique part of the value chain - often having a 1:1 relationship with each customer. But, for SMBs, AI won’t just improve efficiency. It makes new things possible.  SMBs who couldn't invest in hiring people and building bespoke processes can now hire swarms of AI Agents to do the jobs of a 1,000 skilled people overnight. Engineers at upmarket SMBs will be able to use self-generating engineering tools like Cursor or Lovable or Bolt to build bespoke tools for their company and customers in a matter of hours that large enterprise IT departments have taken years to build. They enact a “Digital Transformation” that took an IT department $1B and 5 years to happen for $10k in 1 week. Research that took R&D departments filled with PhD level employees can happen with Deep Research at a fraction of the cost. Decisions that took teams of analysts analyze swatches of data can be handled by custom GPTs with large context windows. Workflows can be overtaken by agentic workflows at a fraction of the cost, higher accuracy and greater speeds. Simply put, AI Agents level the playing field for SMBs vs the enterprise. We are going to witness a new kind of SMB - the ai-forward “upmarket SMB”. One that is able to compete with a big company by deploying AIs to make entirely new things possible. I want to draw a very important distinction. I am not talking about AI companies themselves. Much of the hype around AI companies exploding in growth are AI-companies who have discovered or invented a new mechanism for value creation. These companies can be thought of like a hit consumer app that found the right mechanism and market timing to explode. In “upmarket SMBs”, I mean 10-50 person co that had previously differentiated by service, but with AI Agents they are able to retune to compete in “production-driven” environments. In many cases, upmarket SMBs will extend the part of the value chain they occupy & co-exist alongside enterprises. In other cases, AI Agents will enable such new things that upmarket SMBs will be able to enter the arena of production themselves. And so, with AI Agents, the battle of David vs. Goliath will take on a new meaning.  For David won't just have a slingshot, but an army of AI Agents at his side.

𝗪𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗜 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 Depending upon who you listen to everyone is using AI or everyone on LinkedIn is just talking about AI.  Salesforce’s latest Small & Medium Business Trends report puts some hard numbers to it. Here are some of the stats and my take on what they really mean for the typical small business or the consultants who serve them: 𝟭. 𝟳𝟱% 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗠𝗕𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗜, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘁. 𝘔𝘺 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦: Yes, the adoption numbers are impressive. But plugging in an AI tool and calling it a day isn’t a strategy. I’ve seen too many businesses sign up for “AI-powered” solutions and never connect the dots to their real business challenges. The winners are using AI with intention, tied to revenue, customer experience, or freeing up talent for higher-value work. 𝟮. 𝟵𝟬% 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗠𝗕𝘀 𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗜 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆. 𝘔𝘺 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦: Efficiency isn’t just about automating busywork. The real impact comes when AI is mapped to the processes that actually drive growth, like faster proposal turnarounds, smarter lead scoring, or more personalized marketing. If you’re a consultant, this is your chance to help clients think beyond the “AI checkbox” and focus on real outcomes. (An AI tool we created for a client took a 40-hour process and turned it into a 7-hour process. Charges the same for it.) 𝟯. 𝟴𝟲% 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗔𝗜 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗴 𝗴𝘂𝘆𝘀. 𝘔𝘺 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦: That’s not because they just adopted AI, it’s because they’re using it to punch above their weight: automating what used to be manual, surfacing insights they couldn’t see before, and delivering experiences customers notice. The gap isn’t just in having AI, but in making it a core part of how the business delivers value. 𝟰. 𝟴𝟱% 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗠𝗕𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗥𝗢𝗜 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗔𝗜. 𝘔𝘺 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦: ROI only happens when you’re clear about what you want AI to do for you. I tell clients: start with one problem you can measure, apply AI thoughtfully, and build from there. The businesses that see returns are the ones connecting AI to their strategy, not just their software stack. 𝟱. 𝟰𝟭% 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗜. 𝘔𝘺 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦: Worries about data and privacy are real, but don’t let that stall your progress. The bigger risk is using AI haphazardly, without guidelines, training, or a plan. The right partner or tools can help you keep it safe 𝘢𝘯𝘥 focused. 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗺 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: AI adoption is only step one. The real leaders are those who use AI on purpose to deliver clarity, create customer value, and build a more resilient business. For consultants and business owners alike, the opportunity isn’t just to adopt AI, but to make it work 𝘧𝘰𝘳 you, not just 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 you. 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲: Salesforce, Small & Medium Business Trends, 6th Edition, 2024.

SMBs are facing a critical challenge: how to maximize efficiency, connectivity, and communication without massive resources. The answer? Strategic AI implementation. Many small business owners tell me they're intimidated by AI. But the truth is you don't need to overhaul your entire operation overnight. The most successful AI adoptions I've seen follow these six straightforward steps: 1️⃣ Identify Immediate Needs: Look for quick wins where AI can make an immediate impact. Customer response automation is often the perfect starting point because it delivers instant value while freeing your team for higher-value work. 2️⃣ Choose User-Friendly Tools: The best AI solutions integrate seamlessly with your existing technology stack. Don't force your team to learn entirely new systems. Find tools that enhance what you're already using. 3️⃣ Start Small, Scale Gradually: Begin with focused implementations in 1-2 key areas. This builds confidence, demonstrates value, and creates organizational momentum before expanding. 4️⃣ Measure and Adjust Continuously: Set clear KPIs from the start. Monitor performance religiously and be ready to refine your AI configurations to optimize results. 5️⃣ Invest in Team Education: The most overlooked success factor? Proper training. When your team understands both the "how" and "why" behind AI tools, adoption rates soar. 6️⃣ Look Beyond Automation: While efficiency gains are valuable, the real competitive advantage comes from AI-driven insights. Let the technology reveal patterns in your business processes and customer behaviors that inform better strategic decisions. The bottom line: AI adoption doesn't require disruption. The most effective approaches complement your existing workflows, enabling incremental improvements that compound over time. What's been your experience implementing AI in your business? I'd love to hear what's working (or not) for you in the comments below. #SmallBusiness #AI #BusinessStrategy #DigitalTransformation

SME/SMB exporters can bend the vector of societal impact—without needing the massive resources of tech giants. Most small and medium businesses struggle with limited capital, incremental innovation, and slow scaling. But AI changes the game. Here’s a few examples of how AI can shift an SMB business from linear to exponential growth: • Use AI-driven market research to predict demand in new export regions accurately.   • Automate supply chain and logistics to cut costs and speed delivery globally.   • Enhance product design and quality with AI insights to meet export standards.   • Deploy AI-powered multilingual customer support to boost international sales.   • Streamline finances and HR using intelligent automation, freeing time for growth. For example, a widget manufacturer optimized production and export compliance using AI tools—unlocking new markets faster than ever. Becoming an AI-augmented exporter means learning “just enough to be dangerous” with AI and adopting AI platforms to make this practical. According to my work with Jeffrey Larsen, SME exporters empowered by AI can generate job growth and global innovation outside major tech hubs—democratizing economic opportunity. Read more about how this is possible at the link in the comments… 🚀 Jeffrey Larsen Bill Aulet Suzanne Wylie Steve Orr Jeanette Mulvey Mike Morello Ujjwal Kumar Daire Keogh Boguslawa (Bogy) Cimoszko Skowronski Ellen Drumm Jackie Bernhelm Mike Wandler #AI #SME #ExportGrowth #EconomicDevelopment

🔥 Stop Using AI Wrong: The SMB Business Guide to Building Smarter Teams  I've consulted with dozens of small businesses on AI implementation, and here's the truth: Most are focusing on the wrong things. You don't need million-dollar budgets or fancy enterprise solutions. You need a strategy that makes your entire team smarter. Here's your 3-step playbook for using AI to build collective intelligence in your small business: Team Memory Enhancement ✅ Use AI to document and organize your team's knowledge ✅ Create a simple AI-powered internal wiki using tools like ChatGPT ✅ Help new hires get up to speed faster Attention Optimization ✅ Use AI to streamline communication and reduce meeting overload ✅ Automate routine tasks to free up creative thinking time ✅ Focus your team on high-impact activities Collaborative Decision-Making ✅ Leverage AI for data-driven insights ✅ Use AI to generate multiple solutions for team evaluation ✅ Keep humans in the loop for final decisions 🚫 Common Mistake: Using AI to replace team members ✅ Better Approach: Use AI to amplify your team's capabilities Real Example: A 12-person marketing agency increased productivity by 40% by using AI as a "team coach" rather than a replacement tool. The secret? They focused on enhancing their team's collective intelligence rather than just automating tasks. Your small business's advantage is agility. Use it wisely. What's your experience with AI in your small business? Share below! 👇#SmallBusiness #AI #TeamProductivity #BusinessGrowth #SMB #Leadership

AI: The Great Equalizer for IT Services Companies Forget the old playbook of scaling through endless hiring and managing your bench. AI is rewriting the rules for the growth of IT services. In an era where technological complexity seems to demand ever-expanding teams, artificial intelligence is emerging as the ultimate force multiplier for IT service providers. The traditional growth model of adding headcount to manage demand is becoming obsolete. The days of the "body shop" are no longer. Recent data tells a compelling story: • Entrepreneur's 2025 report reveals SMBs leveraging AI achieve 40% faster project delivery with just half the traditional staffing • World Economic Forum's latest insights confirm AI's transformative potential for small teams • Emerging AI tools are enabling lean teams to compete with enterprise-scale operations- This is #1 What does this mean for IT Service executives? A fundamental shift in competitive strategy where the playing field has leveled: • Lower operational costs • Dramatically improved margins • Ability to take on more complex projects • Reduced recruitment and training overhead • Enhanced innovation capabilities Beyond Automation: Strategic Amplification AI isn't just about replacing tasks, it's about amplifying human potential. By integrating intelligent tools, lean and nimble IT service teams can now: • Automate complex workflow processes • Generate real-time, predictive analytics • Optimize resource allocation • Enhance decision-making precision • Deliver enterprise-level quality with startup agility The future of IT services isn't about who has the most people, but who can most effectively combine human creativity with AI's computational power. For IT leaders and entrepreneurs looking to reimagine their competitive strategy, the message is clear: It's time to stop scaling horizontally and start scaling intelligently. #AI #AIConcierge #services  --------------------------------------------------------- Follow me for a mix of 90s throwback vibes, cutting-edge AI insights, and entrepreneurial expertise to fuel your journey—let’s connect the past and future together!

𝗢𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝟰% 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗜. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲. Reflecting on the early 2000s dot-com boom, I saw large businesses embrace the internet while many small businesses, particularly minority-owned, were left grappling with uncertainty. Today, as I observe the rise of AI, it feels like history is repeating itself. Over the last two years, conversations with small business owners across Queens and Long Island reveal a common theme: a curiosity about AI coupled with uncertainty on where to begin. They see the headlines but lack a clear roadmap. This hesitation poses a risk, especially for minority-owned businesses already facing systemic barriers. If we do not act now, this gap will only grow, further marginalizing these communities in the AI revolution. As a tech CEO, I recognize the transformative potential of AI to enhance small business operations—from increasing productivity to elevating customer service. However, adoption is crucial. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗡𝗬𝗖’𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀: 𝘄𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: NYC Department of Small Business Services Queens Chamber of Commerce Queens Economic Development Corporation Greater Jamaica Development Corporation → 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀: Educate small businesses—especially minority-owned ones—on how AI can directly enhance their operations and spur growth. → 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀: Facilitate free or subsidized access to AI tools tailored to their needs. → 𝗜𝗻-𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴: Organize community sessions to demystify AI and provide hands-on support. → 𝗢𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: Commit to monthly AI workshops across NYC for the next year to build momentum. AI is not just for Silicon Valley giants; it’s for local restaurants, beauty salons, and family-run shops in our neighborhoods. Without intentional action, we risk sidelining the very entrepreneurs who enrich our communities. Let’s strive for AI adoption that is equitable, accessible, and inclusive for everyone. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗮𝗽? 𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. #AIForBusiness #SmallBusinessSupport #MinorityOwnedBusinesses #NYCBusiness #InclusiveInnovation

The AI leadership gap in small businesses is real. And growing. Public claims: "We're AI-driven." Private reality: 84% of SMB employees rarely or never use AI daily. I've seen it firsthand. CEOs who champion AI transformation publicly. Then privately admit they've never used ChatGPT. Don't know if it's a website or an app. This disconnect creates a ceiling effect. Leadership proficiency scores average just 39/100. The bottleneck isn't technology. It's leadership. Most executives view AI as basic automation. Task handlers. Data processors. They miss the transformative potential. Strategic partnership. Decision enhancement. Competitive advantage. Meanwhile, "shadow AI" proliferates. 32% of employees in companies that banned AI use it anyway. Without guidance. Without governance. Without strategic direction. In my latest article, I share: • A three-tier framework for evolving AI from Task Automators to Strategic Advisors • Four specific, actionable strategies for SMB leaders • A practical approach to multi-directional AI integration • A governance model that enables rather than restricts The gap between AI claims and reality creates both risk and opportunity. Leaders who personally engage with AI. Who align it with business capabilities. Who implement it comprehensively. Who establish appropriate governance. They gain significant advantage. The alternative? Falling behind. Permanently. The time to close this gap is now.

A founder just told me, “We’ll look into AI when we’re bigger. Right now, we’re just figuring things out.” I get it. But that’s precisely why you need an AI strategy early. And then I get, Isn't AI Strategy for Big Tech a thing? We are too small to have it. Here’s the reality… AI isn’t a plug-and-play feature. It’s a strategic advantage if aligned with your business goals. Yet most SMBs stall because of these myths: “We need more data before thinking about AI.” “We’ll hire AI talent later.” “It’s just a tool for automation.” “It's a big tech thing, we have more important stuff to do.” But here’s what an AI strategy does: → Identifies high-impact, low-effort use cases → Prioritizes ROI-driven pilots, not moonshots → Aligns AI efforts with your growth roadmap → Builds internal AI literacy, not dependence We’ve seen small teams outperform big ones, simply because they had clarity, not complexity. They treated AI as a business strategy, not just a tech experiment. So here’s the question: Do you want to wait for the perfect moment or design a strategy that evolves with you? What’s one belief holding you back from building your AI game plan? #AIStrategy #AIAdoption #BigTech

I was recently featured in Forbes to share how AI can drive better outcomes for small business owners looking to sell. At OffDeal, we see three major benefits: 1️⃣ More Buyers, Higher Offers Rather than relying solely on personal networks or public listings, AI helps M&A advisors analyze millions of companies to pinpoint hundreds of strategically aligned buyers. This broader reach usually means stronger deal terms and greater certainty of closing. 2️⃣ Faster, Smoother Sale Process From data gathering to document prep and due diligence, AI speeds up every step of the sale. Sellers spend less time bogged down in the process and more time running their business—often cutting weeks or even months from the traditional sale timeline. 3️⃣ More Human Touch By offloading tedious tasks to AI, M&A advisors can focus more on providing tailored strategic advice, offering sellers a more personal and hands-on advisory experience that truly supports sellers during an emotional process. It's important to remember that human touch and guidance remain essential. Rather than replacing M&A advisors with AI, the key to success lies in a seamless collaboration between AI and human M&A experts. If you or someone you know is interested in exploring a potential sale of their business, feel free to reach out. We are already working with dozens of SMB owners on helping them realize the full value of their life's work. Full article can be found here - https://lnkd.in/ec-MEcKQ