AI for SMEs: A Practical Guide for Entrepreneurs and Managers
27 June 2025Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a technology reserved for large multinational corporations. Today, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can also benefit from it in a concrete and immediate way, thanks to increasingly accessible AI technologies, both in terms of ease of use and affordability, as well as supportive initiatives like the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) for SME digitalization.
AI now represents an opportunity for business innovation, improved efficiency, and sustainable growth.
We answer five questions that SME entrepreneurs often ask advanced technology providers.
What are the immediate and tangible benefits of AI for an SME?
AI can deliver measurable benefits within just a few months of implementation. Integrating intelligent digital systems into small and medium-sized businesses yields similar advantages to those seen on a larger scale: time savings, improved customer service, increased sales, optimized resources, and more informed and faster decision-making.
When properly implemented, AI integrates seamlessly into business processes: it automates repetitive tasks, freeing up staff time; through chatbots, it allows companies to maintain 24/7 communication with customers. AI is able to assist in planning marketing campaigns from a strategic perspective, forecast demand, manage inventory avoiding waste or supply errors.
Even small business can gain significant competitive advantages using accessible, easy-to-integrate tools.
How can I start implementing AI in my company without a multinational-level budget?
The best strategy is often the simplest: start small, with a measurable pilot project.
Identify a repetitive or inefficient task, such as email marketing planning or handling customer inquiries, that can be addressed with a basic AI tool requiring no complex installation.
Monitor performance over a short period (one or two months), collecting as much pre-AI data as possible. Then, monitor again with AI integrated.
Only after conducting a straightforward cost-benefit analysis should you consider scaling up. This gradual approach allows team members and partners to get familiar with the new tools and their interactions: business innovation starts with small, smart changes.
What are some easy-to-use AI tools for those without technical expertise?
Today, many tools are designed specifically for users with little or no technical background. Some examples.
ChatGPT: helps reduce time spent on basic research.
Tidio and Intercom: create automated website chatbots to assist customers.
Mailchimp and Brevo (formerly Sendinblue): use AI for personalized newsletter campaigns based on user behavior.
Zoho CRM and Salesforce Essentials: support smart customer and sales management.
Looker Studio (Google): Visualizes business data and offers AI-based insights.
Most of these tools offer free plans or trial versions, making experimentation low-risk. They’re tailored for SME digitalization without requiring in-house IT departments.
What are the most common mistakes to avoid when adopting AI?
The most common mistake is overcommitting, trying to overhaul everything at once. This often leads to paralysis in the face of complexity.
Secondly, lacking clear objectives can result in serious setbacks. AI tools are instruments, not oracles: without well-defined goals, reliable data, and solid analysis, they can waste time and money.
A third major pitfall is failing to train the team. Every innovation requires targeted training for those who will use it. Involving people in the process is essential to success.
AI adoption calls for strategic vision, but also operational realism.
How can I train myself and my team to meet this challenge?
Basic AI education is now widely accessible, but it’s important to match the training to the technological demands and professional ambitions. While fundamental knowledge is often freely available online, a comprehensive, systems-level understanding, sufficient to manage AI implementation within a business, requires high-level specialized training.
Bologna Business School combines high management training with a strong focus on the innovations shaping the business world. As such, it offers a variety of advanced learning opportunities led by an international Faculty and supported by BBS’s global network. BBS also collaborates with local academic centers of excellence, such as Tecnopolo Bologna CNR, part of the Emilia-Romagna network of 10 technopoles, which supports innovation across traditional and emerging industrial systems in the manufacturing sector.
The Global MBA in AI and Manufacturing, full-time, 12-month, English-language, is the ideal path to acquire technical and managerial skills capable of launching a career in the world of high-tech companies.
The Professional Master in Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Management: 1500 hours of full-time learning in English; 12 months of dedicated study in software programming, data-base and SQL language, statistics, accounting and finance.
The Executive Master in Artificial Intelligence for Business, 12-month, part-time hybrid in English is designed for professionals who want to acquire a solid set of skills devoted to harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence in the business context.
The Artificial Intelligence and Generative AI Open Program, part-time on-campus, in Italian and lasting 5 days, is designed to offer an in-depth and practical understanding of how generative AI can be integrated into business processes to improve productivity and accelerate innovation.
With the right training, AI is an opportunity, not an obstacle.
Digital transformation is a necessity for all companies wishing to remain competitive. With a step-by-step approach, appropriate tools and a good dose of curiosity, even a small business can automate processes, improve service and increase performance. Now, more than ever, is the right time to start.
