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Intelligent SME . tech is a Lynchpin Media publication for professionals with an interest in global SME news and events . If you wish to subscribe for regular copies , then please email : info @ lynchpinmedia . com

ELLO AND A warm welcome to issue 44 of

Intelligent SME . tech . On this month ’ s front cover , we feature Dave George , CEO of Bikmo , a UK company which sells bicycle insurance . Bikmo aimed to transform the bike insurance landscape , making it simpler , more comprehensive and easier to purchase . Its philosophy is to encourage more cycling , make insurance easy to understand , offer thorough protection and be straightforward to buy .

Bikmo recognised the importance of integrating its services into the bike buying process . George envisioned leveraging API technology to integrate Bikmo ’ s bike insurance directly into partner platforms . It worked with Apiable to move away from a system designed solely for direct channels to a more flexible , API-led approach . Apiable . io was instrumental in this transformation , offering a platform to productise Bikmo ’ s APIs and provide a secure API portal for partners .

One of the first companies to embrace Bikmo ’ s API product was buycycle , a leading global marketplace for pre-owned bikes . buycycle has enhanced its customer offering by integrating insurance options , providing a more complete and convenient shopping experience . Turn to page 44 to find out more .

The Editor ’ s Question this month is : Is technophobia threatening the future of SMEs ? Do SMEs sometimes overlook new technology because it seems costly and time-consuming ? Three experts explore this issue . Turn to page 20 .

Diversity , equity and inclusion ( DEI ) should be the norm at all businesses . But what can SMEs do to ensure they recruit a diverse workforce ? Amy Lynch , Head of DEI at Thoughtworks , a global tech consultancy , discusses how SMEs can invest in DEI efforts , starting from page 28 .

Financial planning needs to be a priority for SMEs , whichever stage they are in their journey . Without it , the opportunity for growth will be small . And it is a plan which needs to be adjusted all of the time , as cash flow changes . Gareth Anderson , Head of Business Management at Allica Bank , discusses the steps SMEs can take to good financial planning . Turn to page 41 .

We also have a round-up of all the latest SME news from across our regions , while our intelligent brands section looks at what ’ s new in sales and marketing , finance , HR and customer experience .

I hope you enjoy the magazine and if you ’ d like to contribute to any future issues , please do not hesitate to contact me by emailing rebecca @ lynchpinmedia . com

Rebecca Miles Managing Editor

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