In a rapidly evolving business landscape, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are at a critical juncture where adopting advanced technologies is no longer a luxury but a necessity for survival and growth. Artificial Intelligence (AI), once the preserve of large corporations with deep pockets, is now becoming the driving force behind SMB competitiveness and operational efficiency. The rise in AI adoption among SMBs signals a transformative shift towards digital agility that could redefine success in this dynamic sector.

Digital Transformation as a Competitive Necessity

A recent survey by AI4SP and Microsoft found that 52% of SMBs are utilizing AI tools within their operations, reflecting a substantial move towards digital transformation. This statistic is more than a number; it underscores the broad-based recognition among SMBs of the imperative to integrate technology into their business models. This shift is driven by the need to remain competitive in an environment where agility, responsiveness, and innovation are paramount.

The importance of this transition cannot be overstated. For SMBs, digital transformation through AI adoption is not just about keeping up with trends but about establishing a foundation for sustainable growth. The ability to harness AI for tasks such as data analysis, customer relationship management, and even automated customer service allows SMBs to punch above their weight, competing with larger players in their industries.

However, this integration does not come without challenges. It necessitates a willingness to invest in new technologies and an openness to partner with digital experts who can enhance in-house skills. It’s critical for SMBs to not only adopt AI but to foster a culture of continuous learning and adaptation to maximize the potential of these powerful tools.

Proven Effectiveness of AI in Business

The benefits of AI in SMB operations are not merely theoretical. An overwhelming 91% of businesses that have integrated AI report that it has made their operations more successful,¹ pointing to tangible outcomes such as improved efficiency and heightened business success. Furthermore, a remarkable 82% of AI-adopting businesses maintain an optimistic outlook on AI’s potential to propel future growth.² These insights reveal a growing confidence among SMBs in AI as a tool for long-term prosperity.

The optimism is well-founded. AI-driven analytics can offer deep insights into market trends and customer preferences, allowing businesses to tailor their strategies effectively. AI-powered automation can streamline operations, reducing the workload on human staff and minimizing the scope for error. These benefits contribute to a business environment where decision-making is informed, strategic, and forward-looking.

Yet, to truly leverage AI, SMBs must move beyond mere adoption to an understanding of its potential. Sharing success stories and practical use cases can provide the necessary blueprint for others to follow. These narratives can illustrate how AI is not just a technological upgrade but a transformational tool that can revamp the entire business process, driving growth and innovation.

Bridging the AI Knowledge Gap

Despite the promising outlook, a significant knowledge gap exists. About 74% of SMBs have expressed interest in AI, yet many admit to having only a rudimentary understanding of its benefits.¹ Additionally, 70% would be willing to invest more in AI and automation, indicating a clear demand for accessible AI solutions and education.¹ This gap represents a dual opportunity for both the providers of AI technologies and SMBs themselves.

For technology providers, there is a burgeoning market for AI tools and services that cater specifically to SMBs. There’s a call for offerings that demystify AI, providing intuitive platforms that do not require deep technical expertise to manage. For SMBs, there’s a pressing need to invest in AI literacy, ensuring that the workforce can adapt to and exploit these new tools effectively.

Developing and promoting AI-focused training programs and resources can empower SMBs to bridge this knowledge gap. These initiatives can help SMBs navigate the complexities of AI and automation, enabling them to unlock the full spectrum of benefits these technologies offer.

Cost Savings Through AI

The financial incentives of AI adoption for SMBs are clear and compelling. 58% of SMBs anticipate saving over $1,000 in the coming year due to the integration of AI and automation technologies.¹ Moreover, 60% of SMBs report that using AI has increased the efficiency of their operations.¹ These savings are not just a reflection of reduced direct costs but also an indicator of broader operational efficiencies.

Implementing AI can lead to more streamlined workflows, where tasks are performed more quickly and with fewer errors, reducing the need for costly revisions and do-overs. It can also enhance the precision of marketing campaigns, ensuring that dollars are spent targeting the prospects most likely to convert. For SMBs operating on tight margins, these savings can be the difference between stagnation and growth.

Encouraging SMBs to explore AI for both cost management and operational enhancements can lead to improved profitability. As AI technologies become more accessible and their applications more widespread, SMBs that embrace these tools can achieve greater financial health and allocate resources to areas that foster growth and innovation.

The strategic adoption of AI technologies across the SMB sector is demonstrative of a paradigm shift towards enhanced operational efficiencies, cost savings, and an optimistic outlook on future growth. As businesses become more cognizant of the multifaceted benefits of AI, they are progressively gearing up for a deeper integration of these technologies into their core operations. This evolving trend is mirrored in the growing willingness among SMBs to channel investments into AI solutions, recognizing them as pivotal in maintaining competitiveness in a swiftly transforming market landscape.

These developments allude to a future where SMBs’ success is increasingly influenced by their effective utilization of AI technologies. The evidence underscores the need for continued education and robust support systems to fully harness AI’s potential in bolstering business practices and achieving enduring growth. As more SMBs pivot towards this technological awakening, those who navigate the AI transition effectively are poised to redefine the benchmarks of business excellence and sustainability in the digital era.

Sources:

1. “Small Business Now: An AI Awakening.” Constant Contact, 2023,
   news.constantcontact.com/small-business-now-ai-2023,
   drive.google.com/file/d/17tID61RqIGJVRCMr2SHaSeYZSW5NSg8l/view
2. “Empowering Small Business: The Impact of Technology on U.S. Small Business (Second Edition).” U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 2023,
   uschamber.com/small-business/smallbusinesstech,
   uschamber.com/assets/documents/The-Impact-of-Technology-on-Small-Business-Report-2023-Edition.pdf.

This content was originally posted on Medium.

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I’d like to thank every who participated in the MOOC and Online Course Student Challenge. As of today, the student challenge has officially ended.

I appreciate all of you who participated and shared your accomplishments. Thanks to you I was able to try several new online educational platforms including Lynda.com, edX, Coursera, Udemy, CBT Nuggets, Udacity, LinkedIn Learning and many others.

Though the challenge has ended, I have decided to maintain my list of educational activities (certifications, online courses and in-person courses) that I completed prior to the challenge, during the challenge and going forward. Take a look and share your thoughts.

• Professional Certifications
• Professional Specializations

Note: A few activities were removed because I either did not like the course/activity or it simply did not align with my overall brand.

Going forward.

Be sure to remember that while Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) can be valuable educational tools, often packed with high-quality content, employers may not consider them to be educational tools that are greater or equal in value to other educational efforts, like traditional degrees.

It is my opinion, as of the time of this post, that employers value educational activities in the following order (listed from the most valued activity to the least valued activity):

1. Degrees from accredited colleges or universities.
2. Industry certifications that are well-known and widely respected.
3. Technology vendor certifications that are well-known and widely respected.
4. Graduate certificates from accredited colleges or universities.
5. Online courses from accredited colleges or universities.
6. MOOCs offered in partnership with accredited colleges or universities
7. MOOCs offered in partnership with well-known and widely respected technology vendors or industry entities.
8. Everything else.

Before investing your time, money and effort into any educational activity be sure that the entity offering the activity is accredited, trusted, well-known and/or widely respected. If you are not sure whether the activity meets this criterion then please to talk to your employer, mentors, and experienced professionals before enrolling.

Now, go out in the world and be successful.

Feel free to continue sharing your educational successes and new learning platforms that you encounter with me – also reach out to ask a question or to just catch up.

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If you live in or near the DuPage County Illinois area and know someone who’s interested in a career as a Technology professional, then it’s time you learned about College of DuPage’s 2+2 Information Technology and Management Bachelor’s Degree transfer program in collaboration with the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT).

Students attending the College of DuPage (COD) can complete their associate’s degree from COD and then complete their bachelor’s degree in Information Technology and Management (ITM) from Illinois Institute of Technology in just four years.

Alternatively, students can follow the two transfer guides that the schools have available online:

ITM Guide for COD and who plan to major in Information Technology and Management which outlines the core requirements of the program and the COD to IIT Information Technology and Management transfer guide which helps students identify which courses from COD’s CIT and CIS programs that meet the elective requirements of IIT’s ITM program.

Not interested in Information Technology and Management, no problem. There are more 2+2 Transfer Programs offered by COD that allow students to complete 2 years at COD and another 2 years at a college/university to complete a bachelor’s degree. The college also has 3+1 Transfer Programs in partnership with several four-year colleges/universities, that help students help earn their B.A. or B.S. degree in several academic programs.

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Wow, it is almost 2019. I can barely believe that I have been educating students at the College of DuPage (COD) since 2016. Time really does fly. This semester I’m teaching Windows PC Desktop Operating Systems and Introduction to Windows Servers which are courses offered by COD’s Computer & Information Technology (CIT) program. In addition to being academic courses that apply toward graduation, both courses also prepare students to become a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) – meaning that my course content and my in-class project-labs prepare students for Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) certification exams.

I am highly excited to teach these courses during the upcoming semester.

Launch your IT Career with course CIT-1710 Introduction to Servers and CIT-1612 Windows PC Desktop Operating Systems.
Become an Enterprise System Administrator by obtaining the  CIT.CER.SYSADM field of study certification and/or get your Associate Degree in Applied Science for Computer and Information Technology. You can also use these course to help prepare yourself for MCSA exams.

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It’s official, I’m scheduled to teach CIT-1710, Introduction to Servers, in Spring of 2018 with the College of DuPage’s Computer and Internetworking Technologies (CIT) program. The course primarily focuses on how to install the operating system, implement storage and Hyper-V solutions, and manage server environments. The best part is that the course material (virtual labs and textbook) has finally been updated to Windows Server 2016 which is the most current version of Windows. Thank you, Tony Chen and/or Felix Davis.

Note: The description for CIT-1710 on www.COD.edu states that it prepares students for a CompTIA Server+ certification exam, which is incorrect. It is actually a Windows Server course that helps prepare students for the Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) certification exam.

With the update from Windows Server 2012 to 2016, I’m highly excited to teach this course during the upcoming semester.

Launch your IT Career with course, CIT-1710 Introduction to Servers.
Become an Enterprise System Administrator by obtaining the CIT.CER.SYSADM field of study certification and/or get your Associate Degree in Applied Science for Computer and Internetworking Technologies. You can also use this course to help prepare yourself for MCSA exam 70-740.

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If you live in or near the DuPage County Illinois area and know someone who’s interested in a career as an Information Technology professional, then it’s time you learned about College of DuPage’s 3+1 Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Program.

Students attending the College of DuPage (COD) can now earn their associate’s degree from COD and their Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Lewis University in just four years.

Start with an
AAS Degree in Computer Internetworking Technologies leading to BS in Computer Science,

Finish with a
Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Lewis University.

Not interested in Computer Science, no problem. There are several 3+1 programs offered by COD, in partnership with several four-year colleges/universities, that help students help earn their B.A. or B.S. degree in several academic programs. In addition, the college also has traditional 2+2 Transfer Programs that allow students to complete 2 years at COD and another 2 years at a college/university to complete a bachelor’s degree.

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A friend calls me to ask if he can sit in on my class. My answer… Of course.

Ready for a career change? Need to learn a new skill? Consider reaching out to someone at your local community college. Look at the upcoming schedule and then reach out to the instructor of the class of your interest. If you don’t need the college credit then often times you can audit (sit in on) the class.

This semester, I’m teaching CIT-1612 and CIT-1613 with the College of DuPage’s Computer and Internetworking Technologies (CIT) program which helps students prepare for Microsoft Certified Solution Associate (MCSA) certification exams, in addition to being applied to college credit for the CIT AAS Degree. Both courses are great opportunities to learn something new about the Windows Operating System. My CIT-1612, Windows PC Desktop Operating Systems, course started last month and has been a great class thus far. I’m grateful that my colleague Tony Chen pushed to ensure that we are using the latest version of Windows OS for our virtual labs and textbook. In my opinion, it’s always best to teach the most recent technology, regardless of how widely adopted it is today. Since most businesses will not be using the latest version of Windows, it gives the students a confidence boost knowing that they’ll have experience with the tools and technologies that their current and/or future employer may not be aware of just yet. My CIT-1613, Enterprise Desktop PC Support Technician, course starts next month and is a continuation of CIT-1612, however, it covers a different MCSA exam.

A future objective is to update CIT-1710, Introduction to Servers, course material from Windows Server 2012 to Windows Server 2016. FYI, The description for CIT-1710 on www.COD.edu states that it prepares students for a CompTIA Server+ certification exam, which is incorrect. It is actually a Windows Server course that helps prepare students for MCSA certification exam.

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