4 Workflows You Can Fix This Quarter
As we continue to spotlight the areas that matter most to SMEs, we now turn to one of the most talked-about tools in business today: Artificial Intelligence. For many Caribbean SMEs, “AI” still sounds like something for big tech companies; expensive, risky, and a little intimidating. But the most useful AI today isn’t about replacing people. It’s about removing friction: fewer missed follow-ups, faster invoicing, clearer decisions, and smoother projects. Allowing SMEs to focus on the areas of their business that may need to be improved or enhanced.
If you’re ready to move from fear to functionality, start with these 4 practical steps:
1) Customer engagement (respond faster, sell smarter)
- Set up an AI-powered chat assistant on your website or WhatsApp Business to answer FAQs, share pricing ranges, capture leads, and route messages to the right team member.
- Use AI to draft replies to common enquiries so you respond in minutes, not hours.
2) Invoicing and collections (get paid on time)
- Automate invoice creation from quotes, recurring billing, and payment reminders.
- Use AI-assisted email templates that adjust tone; friendly reminder → firm follow-up, while keeping your brand voice consistent.
3) Analytics (turn data into decisions)
- Ask your sales data simple questions: “Which product is most profitable?” “What days are we busiest?” “Who are our repeat customers?”
- Create a weekly dashboard that highlights cashflow risks, slow-moving inventory, and top-performing channels.
4) Project management (less chaos, more delivery)
- Use AI to turn meeting notes into action lists, deadlines, and responsibilities.
- Generate project plans, checklists, and status updates automatically, great for agencies, contractors, and service firms.
The key is governance: define who can use AI, what data is off-limits (client IDs, bank details), and how outputs are reviewed. AI works best with clear processes, not guesswork. Not because you’re a small business means that AI can’t work for you.
