to make it work for you

By Sofia Simaria, White Pebbles Consulting

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is dominating headlines, and for many small and mediumsized businesses, it's still unclear what it actually means for their day-to-day operations. The hype is loud, the terminology can be intimidating, so it’s easy to wonder: is this really for us? The short answer is yes — and the opportunity is bigger than many realise.

SMEs vs. Big Business: Different Challenges, Different Wins

Large corporations have teams of AI engineers, deep pockets, and plenty of IT support, but that doesn’t mean they have it easier. Their biggest challenge is usually navigating internal complexity: disconnected systems, endless sign-offs, and resistance to change. Innovation can be painfully slow.

SMEs, by contrast, are lean, agile, and close to their customers. That’s a huge advantage. With just a bit of guidance and the right tools, small teams can start using AI right now — to save time, improve quality, and make better decisions.

In recent months, I’ve helped several Wandsworth businesses with AI roadmaps, content automation, and intelligent recommendations — projects that once felt out of reach for smaller budgets are now entirely doable, thanks to tools like ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot.

From Quick Wins to Big Shifts

For most SMEs, it starts small: summarising long documents, speeding up emails, or creating proposals. But that’s just the beginning.

AI can help you reimagine how your business operates — from generating leads and tailoring marketing to forecasting demand or designing new products. Today’s tools go beyond paperwork: you can use image recognition to inspect products or flag quality issues, voice assistants to help teams log updates on the go, or AI to instantly translate and respond to customer queries in multiple languages.

This isn’t about replacing people. It’s about making your team’s expertise go further, with AI powering the back-end and your insight steering the ship. Just make sure the foundations are solid — when working with sensitive data, I always recommend consulting an expert. In this issue, data security specialist John Mc Loughlin shares essential advice to help companies stay secure and compliant — a must-read alongside any AI journey.

AI Essentials for SMEs: A Training Series to Get You Started

To help SMEs get started confidently, I’m launching a 4-part online training series with the Wandsworth Chamber of Commerce, starting in July. Each session is practical, interactive, and jargon-free. Here’s what we’ll cover:

• Session 1: Demystifying AI

- Cut through the jargon and understand how AI works

- See real examples that matter to SMEs

• Session 2: The Art of Prompting

- Learn how to “talk to AI” effectively and get high-quality outputs

- Build your own library of prompts for emails, social posts, research, and more

• Session 3: Leveraging Your Data

- Discover ways to combine AI with your own information

- Explore tools for extracting insights and visualising business data

• Session 4: Embracing AI Responsibly

- Develop an AI strategy tailored to your resources

- Learn how to use AI ethically, securely, and with your team on board

Whether you’re new to AI or already exploring it, these sessions are designed to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

Let’s Make AI Work for You

It’s been a pleasure getting to know the Wandsworth business community — and I’m genuinely excited about what we can build together.

AI isn’t just for big firms or tech startups — it’s for people who know their business and want to work smarter. For SMEs, the impact can be transformational.

Hope to see you in July!

Contact: sofia@whitepebblesconsulting.com