Artificial Intelligence

Implementing AI: the challenges facing SMEs

25/11/2021 - Blog

Small and medium-sized enterprises are far from full use of Artificial Intelligence. This is due to a combination of factors including:

  • Lack of knowledge of the technology
  • Shortage of specialised profiles
  • Initial costs of implementing AI

In recent years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been one of the major technological players in the sector. Thanks to AI, today’s companies can carry out a better process of transversal decision making at all levels: Sales, Marketing, Product Development and other strategic divisions of the organisation. According to the multinational consulting firm Price WaterHouse Cooper, Artificial Intelligence can provide a $15.7 trillion business opportunity.

Unfortunately, the benefits of this technology are largely taken up by large companies, leaving small and medium-sized enterprises far behind.  According to a study called Artificial Intelligence Indicators in Spanish companies published by the Secretary of State for Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence, it reveals that only 7% of small and medium-sized companies in the country use this technology in their processes, a very small percentage.

 

artificial intelligence

Main challenges of Artificial Intelligence

The following is a list of the main obstacles that small and medium-sized enterprises face in implementing AI in their organisational processes:

High resource cost

The initial cost required for its implementation is very high.  However, there are optimistic studies, such as that of Gartner, which reveal that in 2025 AI will lead technological investment in companies and that the benefits of its use will outweigh the costs.

Lack of data

The absence of a robust enterprise data processing and analytics system is clearly a disadvantage when it comes to the proper implementation of AI. It is crucial to have quality data and a plan for its use.

Limitations in AI implementation

Lack of understanding and knowledge about AI is a disadvantage faced by many companies. It is very important that business talent develops a set of internal competencies that equips them with the ability to build a culture of innovation and development that is not limited to the upper echelons of business, but that filters down to other employees. For example, validation of Use Cases is a collaborative and shared learning system that goes a long way to understanding potential applications of AI.

Shortage of specialised talent

It is difficult to find specialised people with the skills and abilities needed to work in this technology. This is due to the counterpoint that the growing demand for specialised profiles in other areas exacerbates the lack of talent in this sector.

Ethical and philosophical issues

The idea of replacing the human being with a robot or machine, for example, means that some companies are still a long way from wanting to get involved in Artificial Intelligence. However, the value of AI actually works in the opposite direction. The implementation of AI generates new business capabilities driven by people with novel and innovative skills and knowledge. In this sense, education and training become important as they benefit from the growing need to train new profiles that fit a growing and evolving labour demand.

“It is important that both the government and the EU multiply their efforts so that Artificial Intelligence is not exclusive to large companies and can reach smaller companies with fewer resources. Any company that is not seriously thinking about applying artificial intelligence will simply be left behind, as these technologies transform companies and make them more innovative and flexible than ever” Xan Carlos Fernández Echezuria, Head of Data & AI at atSistemas.

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