Yes, I know, we see articles about AI almost everywhere. Is this really something that matters in business in NZ right now? Don’t we just need to get stuck in, show some grit and prepare for the recovery? Well, no. We need more than that. If we don’t become more efficient our competitors will.
Small and medium businesses drive the New Zealand economy. They employ most of our people and make up over 97% of all enterprises. Yet right now, they face pressure like never before. Costs are rising. Staff are hard to find. Customers are demanding more. Competition is both local and global.
This is why AI matters.
AI is no longer a tool only for big corporates. Affordable, cloud-based platforms mean small businesses can use it today. From accounting to marketing, customer service to data analysis, AI can take care of the repetitive work and free people up for higher-value tasks.
It also helps plug skill shortages. Many SMEs can’t recruit the people they need. AI can do the heavy lifting on admin, reporting, or customer queries. That keeps the business running smoothly, even with smaller teams.
Customers are another driver. People expect faster service, personalised experiences, and 24/7 support. Large companies already use AI to deliver this. SMEs that don’t keep up risk losing ground. AI gives smaller firms the tools to meet these expectations and keep customers loyal.
The playing field is levelling. Tools like Xero, Microsoft Copilot, Canva, or HubSpot put advanced AI in reach for anyone. You don’t need a big budget or an IT department to start. What matters is identifying where AI can make the biggest difference, then starting small.
AI also builds resilience. Business is uncertain. Markets change. Technology moves fast. SMEs that use AI gain agility. They can respond quicker, make better decisions with data, and spot opportunities earlier.
For New Zealand businesses, the real risk is not trying AI. The risk is waiting while competitors – here and overseas – get ahead.
AI won’t replace people. It will support them. It will take away the repetitive work and let people focus on what humans do best – creativity, empathy, and building relationships.
Now is the time. Not tomorrow. Not next year. SMEs that embrace AI today will be stronger, faster, and better prepared for whatever comes next.
That article was generated by AI. Other than the first paragraph it has not been touched by my hands! I asked ChatGPT to write the article in my style – for which I have uploaded a number of previous articles for it to understand what my style is. I want to state categorically, however, that this is the first time I have used AI as the prime source of an article either published via MailChimp, a website Blog or a newspaper article! And I will continue to do so. However, I will also continue to use AI to help me do my job, because it is incredibly useful.
It does make mistakes though. I asked it to generate an image showing New Zealand SME’s embracing AI – this is what it generated:
That’s interesting! Not sure what the tank is about? Maybe “embracing” has overtones of conflict these days? Anyway, the insight here is use AI carefully. It is an incredible tool to improve efficiency, but be mindful.
Stay focused and keep smelling those flowers
Cheers
Phil Pickford
