Focus Instead of FOMO

Artificial intelligence (AI) is often touted as the “next big thing” and many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) feel the pressure to implement this technology. However, AI is not a cure – using it merely for trend reasons can quickly drain resources. What is needed are concrete, solution-orientated applications that can solve real business problems.

Focus on solutions, not hype

The crucial question that companies should ask themselves is: “Where can AI truely help?” AI is not a magic bullet that solves all of a company’s issues. Rather, it is a tool that needs to be applied meaningfully and purposefully. SMEs should first identify where bottlenecks or challenges exist – for example in repetitive tasks, in customer service or in manufacturing. Only then should they consider whether and how AI can solve these specific problems. It is important to avoid succumbing to “fear of missing out”, but to develop strategies and business cases that make sense and can be implemented for your own company.

For SMEs in particular, it makes sense to start small and focus on a specific area of application in which AI offers real value. A good example is the development of an AI-powered chatbot (available in German) by HeronOS for ITENOS. This chatbot assists in handling customer enquiries and was designed to solve a specific problem – not just to “introduce AI”. Rather, it is about realising which redundant tasks can be outsourced and what knowledge is necessary in the company to support this transformation.

Keeping compliance in mind

In addition to technological considerations, legal and ethical aspects are also of great importance. SMEs in particular, which do not have comprehensive legal or compliance departments, need to take a close look at the requirements for the use of AI. These include data protection and copyright issues. Dr Sascha Vander, an expert in IT law, points out that SMEs must ensure that they own the rights to the data they feed into AI systems. It is also important to understand that the output generated by AI – such as texts or images – is not always protected by copyright. Legal regulations, such as the EU AI Act, will further regulate this area and it is essential that companies introduce appropriate compliance policies.

AI systems rely on large amounts of data to work effectively. It is therefore crucial that the data used is managed securely and in accordance with data protection laws, such as the GDPR. SMEs should develop internal policies that define how AI may be used and ensure that all employees are trained accordingly to avoid potential legal pitfalls.

Another important aspect is that AI should not be seen as a replacement for human labour. Rather, AI offers the opportunity to relieve employees by taking over time-consuming routine tasks. This creates space for the workforce to focus on more strategically important and creative activities. For example, AI can be used in customer service or administrative tasks to optimise processes and utilise resources more efficiently.

“AI in practice” initiative

The eco Association has launched the “AI in Practice” initiative to help its members with with AI implementation. The results of previous projects are already available free of charge. The initiative is currently focussing on three core areas: Data & Services, Infrastructure and Framework Conditions.

AI providers, cloud services and industry experts jointly evaluate market trends and developments. The aim is to help companies better determine their position on the market. This creates new, collaborative business models, particularly with regard to the requirements of the industry and its value chains.

For providers, developers and consultants specialising in SMEs, eco offers “AI in Practice”, a comprehensive package to support the planning and implementation of AI strategies. With the help of practical assistance and learning programmes, even inexperienced employees can define their own requirements for the technical service and find the right AI tools, taking into account their level of digitalisation using a “wizard” (available in German). An interactive process map provides a quick overview of which AI solutions can help with typical challenges in daily work.

To enable SMEs to check their applications and processes for trustworthiness and compliance, eco also provides a training programme that teaches employees the basics. For stakeholders with a focus on security and compliance, there is a catalogue of criteria that makes it easier to evaluate trustworthy applications.

These approaches have already passed the practical test: Applications from the catalogue have been successfully deployed in industry and implemented in preconfigured AI services. One example is the ESW Group, which was able to achieve a significant efficiency gains in production planning through the use of AI solutions – starting with simple tools such as Excel and gradually expanding with AI.

Using AI strategically

Ultimately, AI should not be an end in itself, but part of a toolbox that is used strategically to solve real problems. Companies that implement AI purposefully can not only increase their efficiency, but also open up new business models and growth opportunities. Key factors such as customer and employee satisfaction as well as the company’s future viability, should be at the forefront.

By focussing on their core tasks and genuine needs, SMEs can benefit from AI solutions that are specifically tailored to their needs – thereby making sustainable investments in the future.