Small firms embrace AI despite rising concerns | East Midlands Business Link

55% of small businesses now use AI tools. Two years ago it was 20%. That stat probably makes you feel behind. It shouldn't. Most of those "AI users" bought a tool that sounded good in a demo, quietl

55% of small businesses now use AI tools. Two years ago it was 20%.

That stat probably makes you feel behind. It shouldn't.

Most of those "AI users" bought a tool that sounded good in a demo, quietly shelved it three months later, and still pay the monthly subscription. Sound familiar? You're not behind. You're just honest about it.

Here's what the hype misses. Adoption numbers don't measure results. They measure purchases. There's a massive difference between owning an AI tool and actually getting value from one. The businesses pulling ahead aren't the ones who bought the most — they're the ones who solved one specific problem first.

That's the whole game. Not a platform. Not a transformation. One problem, one tool, one measurable result. Then you build from there.

This week, pick the single most repetitive task your team does that eats time and produces no revenue. Write it down. That's your starting point — not a six-month roadmap, not a consultant's proposal.

One problem. One test. Thirty days. That's how real AI wins actually happen.

What's the one task in your business you'd most want to get off your team's plate right now?

#SmallBusiness #AIStrategy #BusinessGrowth #Leadership

Original Source

... Small Businesses (FSB). The study found that 55 per cent of small firms now use AI tools, up from 20 per cent in 2023, highlighting a sharp rise ...