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THE CHALLENGE FOR SMES IS UNDERSTANDING HOW AI CAN WORK FOR THEM .
C ompanies of all sizes are grappling with economic challenges . Inflation rates , higher energy costs , global conflicts and unstable political environments are leading to uncertainty , and SMEs are not an exception . But amongst all this there are opportunities for SMEs to grow and to use new innovations and new approaches to expand their businesses .
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 .
The challenge for SMEs is understanding how AI can work for them . We hear a lot about the investments being made in AI and in data centres that are dedicated to powering AI implementations , but most companies don ’ t require the scale of Meta or AWS , for example . Instead , they can benefit from affordable , scalable solutions tailored to their specific needs , particularly if they aim to run data-intensive applications like Large Language Models ( LLMs ). Memory and storage solutions , including SSDs , offer SMEs a way to handle these data demands on traditional servers , allowing them to retain data security by hosting on-premises , rather than relying on the cloud .
This is where technology integrators and Value Added resellers have an opportunity . Their expertise will be invaluable in helping SMEs to understand what infrastructure they need to adopt AI successfully in the year to come . They have access to competitively priced components such as memory and storage that are essential as AI usage grows and they will help firms to navigate a path that allows them to take advantage of AI and scale as they grow .
Another opportunity for SMEs is to start building security by design , particularly if they operate in the EU and are now subject to NIS2 and DORA regulations . Security by design means that all aspects of the SME business are seen through a security lens . IT departments can plan encryption , such as on SSDs or on external USBs , to ensure all data is protected whether it ’ s being used within the corporate perimeter or by employees working remotely . Again , IT integrators can help SMEs to adopt an enhanced security approach that will ensure they not only protect sensitive data but are also compliant . The new regulations have made senior executives more responsible , which means they will be looking for expert assistance .
BERND DOMBROWSKY , VP SALES & MARKETING EMEA , KINGSTON TECHNOLOGY EUROPE
22 Intelligent SME . tech