Recently, our Managing Director Stuart Black sat down with Oliver de Candole, an AI transformation expert from autoMEE, to discuss how SMEs can practically implement AI solutions. Here’s what we learned.
You can see the full video here: VIDEO: autoMEE and ERGOS – AI Integrations for SMEs (Full Interview) | ERGOS Technology Partners
Where should you start?
If you’re an owner-led business without a massive IT budget, the prospect of implementing AI can feel overwhelming. Oliver’s advice? Start by looking inward.
“The processes of the business really determine what is available to them,” Oliver explains. “You need to understand where your bottlenecks are – what’s preventing you from scaling, especially in the startup phase of a company.”
Think of it as a business health check. Before speaking to an AI specialist, take time to identify:
- Which processes are inefficient
- Where productivity could be improved
- What tasks are taking your team away from higher-value work
- Which bottlenecks are preventing growth
This self-assessment gives you the “ammo” you need to have a productive conversation about AI solutions that will actually benefit your business.
The low-hanging fruit: Administrative tasks
The best place to start? Those mundane, repetitive, data-driven tasks that anyone could do—but that are consuming valuable time from your skilled team members.
“Some of the mundane, data-driven tasks that really just about anyone could do,” as Oliver puts it. “But at the same time, it’s taking them away from that higher-value work.”
Consider a logistics company, for example. The mountains of invoices, order sheets, and cross-referencing between purchase orders could all be handled by AI – freeing up your team to focus on strategic work that actually grows the business.
Will AI replace jobs?
This is the question on everyone’s mind, and Oliver’s perspective is refreshingly practical:
“A lot of people are worried – ‘Oh, AI is going to come and replace me.’ But no – AI is going to make you five times what you already are. And if you can’t use it, the only thing that’s going to replace you is someone who can.”
Think of AI as a force multiplier. It’s not about replacing people; it’s about enabling them to achieve more. Used correctly, AI can do the work of multiple people, 24/7, whilst your team focuses on the creative, strategic work that truly requires human insight.
How the process works
If you’re ready to explore AI for your business, here’s what the journey typically looks like:
Initial consultation
You’ll have a conversation with key team members – not just the business owner, but people from sales, HR, operations, and any other relevant departments. AI isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, so input from across the business is crucial.
“It’s crucial to have someone who knows the ins and outs of the business – that might mean four, five, six, seven, eight team members,” Oliver notes.
Business audit
Next comes a thorough review of your internal processes:
- What systems are you currently using?
- Do they have API integration capabilities?
- Can your systems communicate with each other?
This audit ensures any AI solution can integrate smoothly with your existing infrastructure.
Solution design
Based on the audit findings, AI specialists work with you to design practical solutions tailored to your specific challenges and workflows.
And here’s the reassuring bit: you don’t need to be technical to participate in this process. “It’s about process, right?” as Stuart puts it. You just need to understand your business processes – the technical implementation is handled by the experts.
Real-world success: A case study
Oliver shared a brilliant example of AI in action for a fish supplier operating across the south of England. Like many businesses in traditional industries, they’d been slow to adopt technology.
The challenge? Hotels and restaurants would phone in orders overnight, leaving voicemails. Staff would spend over an hour each morning listening to messages and manually processing orders – a process prone to errors and inefficiency.
The solution? A voice AI system that:
- Answers calls outside business hours
- Logs orders directly into the database
- Offers daily deals and upsells to customers
- Never makes transcription errors
The result? Increased productivity and increased sales. It’s like having an employee who never takes a holiday, never needs sleep, and performs consistently every single time.
Why timing matters
Economic pressures are real right now. The cost of living has risen, margins are tight, and businesses are looking for ways to build efficiency without compromising quality.
“Over the next six months, I think the SME market will really start to adopt AI – they can see it’s needed,” Stuart observes.
The businesses that move now will gain a competitive advantage. Those that wait risk being left behind – not by AI itself, but by competitors who’ve learned to harness it effectively.
The importance of doing it safely
Here’s something crucial that often gets overlooked in the AI hype: security.
Personal ChatGPT accounts in a business environment are “incredibly dangerous for business,” as Stuart points out. Information needs to stay within your organisation, which means using corporate licences and proper access controls.
This is where working with experienced IT partners becomes invaluable. At ERGOS, we understand how AI integrates with your Microsoft 365 tenancy, how to lock down enterprise applications appropriately, and how to ensure your team uses AI tools safely and securely.
Making AI affordable for SMEs
One of autoMEE’s founding goals was making AI solutions affordable for small and medium-sized businesses. There are companies out there taking advantage of businesses who don’t understand what AI really costs or what’s genuinely possible.
The mission should be making AI accessible to all business owners—not just those with deep pockets.
The partnership advantage
Working with established IT partners like ERGOS and AI specialists like autoMEE gives you the best of both worlds: technical infrastructure you can trust, combined with cutting-edge AI implementation that’s secure and practical.
You get the safety net of reliable IT support, the expertise of AI transformation specialists, and—perhaps most importantly—someone who can cut through the hype to show you what AI can actually do for your business today.
Ready to explore AI for your business?
If you’re thinking about taking those first steps into AI, now is the time. The technology is mature enough to deliver real value, affordable enough for SMEs to access, and essential enough that waiting could put you at a competitive disadvantage.
Start by doing that internal assessment:
- Where are your bottlenecks?
- Which processes are inefficient?
- What’s preventing you from scaling?
Then reach out. We’d be delighted to have a conversation about how AI might benefit your specific situation – with no jargon, no pressure, and absolutely no patronising tech-speak. Contact us here: Contact – ERGOS Technology Partners
Because at the end of the day, this isn’t about the technology. It’s about helping your business work smarter, grow faster, and give your team the space to focus on what they do best.
Interested in learning more about AI solutions for your business? Get in touch with the ERGOS team to arrange an initial consultation. We’ll work with you to understand your challenges and, where appropriate, introduce you to our partners at autoMEE to explore practical AI solutions.