// EDITOR ’ S QUESTION //

Every month , we pose industry experts a question pertinent to the issues of the day . This month . . . .

SMES MUST NOW PROVIDE SEAMLESS , SECURE AND PERSONALISED EXPERIENCES TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE .

T HAS BEEN A challenging

2024 for all businesses . Rising costs , supply chain issues , a talent shortage and regulatory changes have all brought new problems to contend with for SME owners . But what will this new year bring ?

Changes were already afoot at the end of 2024 with some larger businesses calling their staff back to the office . Yet at the same time , research has shown that people want hybrid working and don ’ t want to be in the office full time . If employers want their staff back in the office , how can they make it an attractive place to be ? There needs to be a reason for staff to be back in the office such as collaboration , otherwise it is hard to justify the demand .

Cybersecurity continues to be an issue for SMEs , with many perhaps wrongly thinking they won ’ t be targeted due to their size . SME bosses need to make sure they have plans in place to deal with and prevent cyberthreats . AI adds to this challenge but can also provide a solution too .

Cost pressures continue to loom large for SMEs , as although inflation is coming down , it has not always resulted in changes in supply chain prices . Energy bills still provide headaches for SMEs and an increase in wages is also something to consider . On the following three pages , three experts discuss what they see as the major challenges and areas of growth for SMEs . affect how SMEs do business in 2025 . The Employment Rights Bill and sections of the Digital Markets , Competition and Consumers Act mean businesses will have to move fast to become compliant . While these moves are meant to protect workers and consumers , they might raise administrative and operational costs . The stricter penalties for noncompliance go up to heavy fines , raising the bar on ensuring SMEs are regulatory-ready .”

While Bernd Dombrowsky , VP Sales & Marketing EMEA , Kingston Technology Europe , said : “ Artificial Intelligence is widely understood to offer multiple benefits to businesses and would seem to be an opportunity , but the reality is that for SMEs , adoption of AI can depend on the sector they work in and whether they have the available budget and appetite to embark on the AI journey . A survey carried out by the British Chambers of Commerce in the summer found that 43 % of SME firms had no plans to use AI technology at all , but this is despite 42 % saying they believe AI will increase their productivity .”

Ralph Berndt , Director Sales and Marketing , inq . South Africa , added : “ Digital Transformation has reshaped customer behaviour . SMEs must now provide seamless , secure and personalised experiences to remain competitive . Achieving this requires not only the right technology but also reliable connectivity solutions that support hybrid environments and secure data flows .”

Simon Daniels , Sales Director , KBS Corporate , said : “ The new UK legislation will dramatically

20 Intelligent SME . tech