The SME AI checklist: how to get AI right for your business

AI can help small businesses save time, automate repetitive tasks and produce everything from marketing copy to financial forecasts. But getting value from AI isn’t simply a case of choosing a tool and handing tasks over to it.

Here are some of the things to consider when introducing AI into your business, or reviewing how you’re already using it.

Before you start

• Check whether you actually need AI. Not every business problem needs an AI solution. A conventional tool or a simple process change might be cheaper, safer or more effective.

• Identify what you want AI to achieve. Are you trying to save time, reduce costs, improve customer service or help employees with specific tasks? Start with the problem rather than focusing on the technology.

• Give staff appropriate training. Ensure anyone using AI understands what the tools can and can’t do, how to use them effectively and when human judgement is needed.

• Set clear guidelines. Make sure employees know which AI tools they can use, what information they can enter and which tasks are appropriate for AI. Guidance should reflect the business’s data protection, security and confidentiality requirements.

When you’re using AI

• Follow the guidelines. Make sure employees use approved tools and follow your rules around data protection, security, confidentiality and acceptable use.

• Be careful about the information you enter. Before sharing business or customer information with an AI tool, check that you’re allowed to do so, and also that you understand how the tool handles the data.

• Check AI-generated information. AI can produce inaccurate or misleading answers, so check facts, figures, sources and other information before relying on it.

• Keep human oversight involved. AI can support decisions and processes, but people should remain responsible for reviewing its output and deciding how it’s used.

• Consider how customers and employees may be affected. If you’re using AI to communicate with customers, assess applications or make decisions about people, consider whether additional safeguards or transparency are needed.

• Where appropriate, be transparent. Consider whether customers, employees or other stakeholders should be told when AI has been used to create content or support a decision.

Once AI becomes part of the business

• Review your tools regularly. AI products, pricing, features and privacy policies can change. Check periodically that the tools you’re using are still appropriate.

• Measure whether AI is actually helping. Look at the time saved, costs reduced or improvements made. If a tool isn’t delivering meaningful benefits, there's little reason to keep using it.

• Keep your skills up to date. The AI environment changes quickly, so make sure employees understand both what your chosen tools can do and where their limitations lie.

The bottom line

Getting AI right isn’t necessarily about adopting the latest tools; it’s about intentional and responsible use. By setting clear guidelines, maintaining human oversight, and regularly reviewing the results, you will be best placed to figure out exactly how AI can best serve your business goals.