The AI Advantage:
An SME's Game-Changer for Growth
SMEs are experiencing challenges like rising costs and soaring customer expectations. The solution isn't just working harder—it's working smarter with Artificial Intelligence (AI), the core strategy for a decisive win in today's market.
Hong Kong Productivity Council's recent survey "AI Readiness in Workplace Survey 2025" reveals that businesses are using AI for quick wins on high-frequency tasks to validate the return on investment before scaling. The impact is clear across four key areas:
- Customer Service: 24/7 intelligent chatbots boost efficiency and satisfaction.
- Marketing: Automates content creation for precision-targeted campaigns.
- Operations: Frees up teams by automating routine tasks like summaries and quotations.
- Risk Management: Strengthens compliance by automating content moderation and transaction monitoring.
Forget the high barrier to entry. Modern AI is accessible. Cloud and API-based solutions require minimal upfront investment and integrate directly with your existing CRM and ERP systems. This shifts decision-making from intuition to data-driven insight.
For SMEs, the most practical way to start is to identify a single, high-frequency "pain point"—such as handling customer complaints or creating quotations—and set clear Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Initially, a "human-AI collaboration" model can be adopted, positioning AI as a powerful assistant to your team. As processes mature, you can gradually move towards full automation. Throughout this process, building an internal knowledge base and establishing review mechanisms are fundamental to ensuring both the quality of output and data security.
Want to learn how to turn these pilot projects into tangible returns? Explore the featured content in this issue of "DDIY Express" to discover how to leverage AI and build a new growth engine for your business