You've got the basics of AI, now what?

The SME AI Adoption Framework is your comprehensive guide to implementing AI effectively, efficiently, and ethically in your business. Get REAL results, right now!

Knowing how to adopt AI isn't always obvious

Building on our experience specifically dealing with SMEs,  we've narrowed down key activities to those that add real value.

Don't get stuck in pointless academic exercises, build real value with AI, through a structured, proven approach.

• Real-World Expertise: Built on insights from guiding over 300 SMEs in their AI journey
• Practical Outcomes: Generate tangible artifacts that drive your business forward
• Tailored for SMEs: Focused on the unique challenges and opportunities of small to medium enterprises
• CPD Certified: Ensure your learning meets recognised professional standards

A. Theory

Let's face it, as an SME owner you're busy, you're not going to drop everything to develop a custom neural network, and neither should you. Understand what's important to know and what is a distraction with our AI Theory modules.

A1 - Data Science & Basic Statistical Concepts
Overview: Introduction to foundational data science principles and statistical methods.
Outcome: Ability to interpret and leverage data for informed business decisions
Artefact: Key Business Data Register

A2 - Ethics
Overview: Examination of ethical considerations in AI, including fairness, accountability, and transparency.
Outcome: Implement ethical AI practices to build trust and mitigate risks.
Artefact: AI Ethics Policy

A3 - AI Strategy Development
Overview: Frameworks and approaches for creating robust AI strategies aligned with business goals.
Outcome: Develop a comprehensive AI strategy aligned with business objectives
Artefact: AI strategy and roadmap

A4 - Evaluation
Overview: Techniques and metrics for assessing the performance and impact of AI models.
Outcome: Accurately measure and communicate the ROI of AI initiatives
Artefact: AI project evaluation framework

A5 - RAG & Knowledge Graph
Overview: Understanding Retrieval Augmented Generation and the creation/use of knowledge graphs.
Outcome: Leverage organisational knowledge more effectively using AI
Artefact: Core business context and knowledge for use by AI.

A6 - Risks, Security, and Privacy
Overview: Identification and mitigation of AI-related risks, security concerns, and privacy issues.
Outcome: Implement robust AI security measures to protect business assets.
Artefact: AI risk assessment and mitigation plan

B. Tools & Techniques

Thousands of new AI tools have exploded onto the productivity market, not only that, but there are completely new ways of using the new generation of tools to achieve results no-one dreamed of previously. Understanding this new ecosystem is the key to getting a step change for your business.

B1 - Tool Selection and Evaluation
Overview: Criteria and methods for selecting and evaluating AI tools.
Outcome: Make informed decisions on AI tool investments.
Artefact: AI tool evaluation framework and recommendations.

B2 - Automation
Overview: Implementing AI-driven automation across different business processes.
Outcome: Streamline operations and reduce costs through AI-powered automation.
Artefact: AI process automation plan for a key business function

B3 - Advanced Transcription
Overview: Techniques for transcribing audio and video content using AI.
Outcome: Efficiently convert audio/video content into actionable text data.
Artefact: Automated transcription workflow

B4 - Scraping
Overview: Methods for extracting data from websites and online sources using AI.
Outcome: Gather valuable market and competitor intelligence using AI.
Artefact: Web scraping targets and workflow design

B5 - Personas
Overview: Creating detailed customer personas using AI-driven data analysis.
Outcome: Develop more targeted and effective marketing strategies.
Artefact: Set of data-driven customer personas

B6 - Image Creation
Overview: Utilising AI tools for generating and enhancing images.
Outcome: Create high-quality visual content efficiently using AI.
Artefact: Organisational template prompt for business aligned images

B7 - Research
Overview: Applying AI to conduct and optimise research activities.
Outcome: Accelerate research and development processes using AI.
Artefact: Knowledge base sources and research update workflow

B8 - AI Agents
Overview: Designing and deploying AI agents for specific tasks.
Outcome: Improve customer service and operational efficiency with AI agents.
Artefact: Identified early target automation tasks for AI agents.

C. Use Cases

What use is power without purpose? Understanding how others are using is the first step in understanding how you can unleash the potential of AI, but don't stop there, there is so much still to discover, so open your organisation to innovation and discover use cases before everyone else to secure a competitive advantage.

C1 - Use Case Development
Overview: Methods for identifying and developing practical AI use cases.
Outcome: Identify and prioritise high-impact AI opportunities for the business.
Artefact: Prioritised AI use case portfolio

C2 - Bids and Proposals
Overview: Crafting compelling AI project proposals and bids.
Outcome: Secure funding or approval for AI initiatives through persuasive proposals.
Artefact: Proposal development workflow

C3 - Marketing Automations
Overview: Leveraging AI for automating and optimising marketing activities.
Outcome: Increase marketing efficiency and effectiveness through AI automation.
Artefact: AI-powered marketing automation blueprint

C4 - Customer Insights
Overview: Utilising AI to gain deep insights into customer behaviour and preferences.
Outcome: Enhance customer understanding to improve products and services.
Artefact: AI-generated customer insight report

C5 - Use Case Discovery
Overview: How to find new and innovative use cases.
Outcome: Access to hundreds of high value use cases for your domain
Artefact: Domain use case tracker