By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Stakeholders in the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria have been advised by the founder of AI Nigeria, Mr Ehia Erhabor, to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology.
Speaking at the Ecobank MySME Growth Series webinar recently, he described AI as a game-changer, particularly for small businesses, because it is rapidly transforming industries by automating processes, enhancing analytics, and enabling personalized customer experience.
The tech enthusiast stressed that the future of AI is its democratization where companies of all sizes including SMEs can harness its power to drive innovation and gain a competitive edge.
However, he listed the challenges and risks of AI as bias, explainability, privacy, transparency and misuse, debunking claims in some quarters that AI will lead to the end of the world but rather a tool for development.
“AI technology holds the key to the future. It is quite pervasive. It is part of our existence and will impact businesses the way we can ever imagine.
“It can help SMEs develop new products and services by analysing data and identifying customers’ needs. AI can also be used to automate repetitive tasks, streamline workflows, and improve efficiency by reducing operational costs,” Mr Erhabor said during his presentation titled Using AI for Business Innovation.”
Also speaking, the former Chief Operating Officer of Flutterwave, Ms Bode Abifari, said AI technology holds the key to the future, explaining that it simulates human intelligence to perform complex tasks like research, decision-making, pattern recognition and problem-solving.
She submitted that AI can improve customers’ experience and engagements for the SMEs, adding that the technology can personalize interactions, provide personalized recommendations and enhance customer service leading to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty for small businesses.
Ecobank MySME Growth Series, which started in February, is designed to empower SME operators across the country. It is part of the bank’s commitment to train over 1 million SME operators in various sectors of the economy in 2024.
The training will provide resources for starting a business, registration processes, industry statistics, and essential considerations for running a business. The series covers key areas such as accounting, credit, sales & marketing, taxation, and inventory management.
