AI for SMBs: Some of the Learnings
AI for SMBs:Finding Signal in the Noise AI interest was relentless through 2025. If you’re feeling the pressure to do something with AI, but don’t know where to start then this is one way in which I think about it. Most SaaS vendors have made the pivot to be an AI powered SaaS service. If you’re already on the platform, it’s usually fine. The improvements are welcome. It’s not too often the AI addition is getting in the road of how it’s already being used. Naturally Ohnyx has been on the journey with Microsoft’s Copilot. Looking at 2025 as a whole Copilot has shown improvement. The quality is inconsistent, but pull in files to generate summaries, cross analysis from within OneDrive, Teams, and SharePoint is quite handy. Where AI Delivers Real Value – And Where It Doesn’t Enterprise level organizations – the government, banks etc – benefit from AI. A 1-2% improvement across 1000’s of people is a decent gain. A PwC report showed revenue per employee jumped 27% in AI exposed industries between 2018 to 2024. This is a measurement of large enterprise. It’s a different story at the small business level. The government has some 200+ AI use cases now. A small business won’t find it’s ROI through scale like enterprise. And over investing in AI can show a negative return, such as 8 disconnected AI tools which adds to training overhead, administration, subscription creep, and context switching. Think instead about a well integrated system, driving and supporting every day workflows. Handling document intake, extracting data, drafting reports, and then pinging clients or staff with an update. Start With Automation, Then Let AI Do the Heavy Lifting An example might be a broker converts their existing client list into a database. An AI agent monitors renewal dates and triggers a workflow a month or two out. Pulls the clients policy terms, updates against market rates, drafts a comparison report highlight key points, and sends it to the broker. A small business may find the scale benefits this way through allowing the policy per broker ratio to increase. Most of what was just described is automation. The AI part kicks in for pattern recognition, drafting, summarising. Tasks which previously needed a human in the loop. Anyone on Microsoft 365 already has the backbones for automation available to them. If you’re an owner or manager feeling pressure to explore AI, it’s normal to feel unsure about where it actually fits in amongst the marketing hype. The use cases and statistics are often enterprise scale, and the practical path for a 10-20 person business isn’t obvious. Start with the workflows that already frustrate you. The ones with manual steps, repeated tasks, or information that sits in someone’s head until they remember to act on it. That’s where automation pays off. AI just makes it possible to include steps that used to need a person, such as reading a document, drafting a summary, reporting back with data, spotting what’s changed. You know when AI is working when it’s taken stuff off your plate. Citation The main PwC AI Jobs Barometer page: https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/issues/artificial-intelligence/ai-jobs-barometer.html The full 2025 report PDF: https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/issues/artificial-intelligence/job-barometer/2025/report.pdf The press release with the 27% stat: https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/news-room/press-releases/2025/ai-linked-to-a-fourfold-increase-in-productivity-growth.html If you want to chat about how you can use AI for your business, please get in touch. Book a Time to Talk Or call us on 0800 646 994
AI Workplace Policy
Crafting a Responsible AI Policy for the Modern Workplace Like many businesses, your team is most likely using, or discussing, AI. The opinions remain wide ranging with some people refusing to engage, while others – and enterprise! – are fully committing. What I want to suggest, and you can skip straight to the bottom and fill in the form if you like, is taking AI seriously enough to adopt an AI policy for your workplace. One area I use it is the gym. I’m not a physiologist, or a trainer, but I know what I want to achieve, I just don’t know how. Using a tool like Perplexity or ChatGPT gives me the means to scan whitepapers, collate perspectives from experts in the field, test my theories against a simulated point of view (such as Dr Mike). I recently connected my Hevy app to ChatGPT which gives access to my actual training data. This not only improves the AI results, but I can discuss what I want (for example, bicep curls – yes, face pulls – no). It will then go create the routine in Hevy. It saves me the time researching by keeping me better informed, does the data entry work, and I feel more versatile ‘when’ I turn up to the gym. There are plenty other uses like this. When it comes to business you want to encourage the use of AI – especially for your experts and admin staff. Most businesses have staff already using AI – what we call shadow IT. That’s where information technology is being used within an organization without explicit organizational approval, oversight, or awareness. These people are, benefit of the doubt, wanting to be more productive in their work. Make these people champions as they can provide insight, and ideas, into how to make AI best work for you. You want to do this within the framework of a workplace policy. A good policy will cover what tools to use, who approves it, real-work scenarios. It also protects the company against brand damage, cyber security, potentially leaking personal/client data and IP loss. Businesses should always keep in mind how to protect their company data. An AI workplace policy will support both benefits of AI, while mititgating the risk from the cons. What I suggest is you get an AI policy put in place which tells the organization the overall stance on AI. Find the people using it already, and see if their use cases present real opportunities. Then include those in the AI policy, and have them become champions on it. The policy should also contain what ‘not’ to use it for. This should better protect you from the risks outlined above. If this sounds like something you’re interested in, send us an email, or down the bottom of this post is a form. Fill that in and we’ll send you out our Small Business template. If you would like to discuss the in’s and out’s we’d be happy to find a time to meet. All the best, Phil AI policy template for small business To get your AI policy template for small business, email us or fill out the form and we’ll email you the document. [email protected] 646 994 Fill out this form to receive your AI policy template for small business. Join our newsletter Contact me for follow up
Leverage Copilot for Microsoft 365
Leverage Copilot for Microsoft 365 What are some of the key differentiators that can propel small businesses forward? They include efficiency, productivity, and innovation. Microsoft has expanded the availability of one of its most dynamic tools to SMBs. A tool that can be a real game-changer for growth. Copilot for Microsoft 365 is a powerful new addition to the M365 suite. It was first offered to enterprise customers only. But Copilot is now open to businesses of all sizes. As long as they have Microsoft 365 Business Standard or Business Premium. Microsoft has positioned Copilot to revolutionize the way SMBs work. This innovative AI tool empowers users to generate creative content. It also streamlines workflows and unlocks new levels of productivity. Let’s explore the exciting possibilities Copilot unlocks for your growing business. How Copilot Streamlines Workflows Copilot leverages the power of large language models (LLMs). LLMs are AI models trained on massive datasets. This enables Copilot to understand natural language and generate contextual responses. It offers intelligent suggestions and content within your Microsoft 365 applications. Here’s how Copilot translates this technology into real-world benefits for your small business: Effortless Content Creation Struggling with writer’s block or repetitive tasks like email writing? Copilot can suggest text responses and complete sentences. It can even draft entire emails based on your initial input. With just a few guiding prompts, your team can: Craft compelling marketing copy Write concise customer service responses Create dynamic PowerPoint presentations Enhanced Productivity Copilot automates repetitive tasks and streamlines workflows by offering intelligent suggestions. This can free up valuable time for your employees. It allows them to focus on more strategic initiatives. As well as high-value projects or core business activities. Imagine automatically generating reports or automating data entry tasks. This unleashes your team’s energy for creative problem-solving and innovation. Improved Communication and Collaboration Clear and concise communication is vital for any successful business. Copilot facilitates this by doing things like: Suggesting relevant phrases Correcting grammatical errors Ensuring consistent messaging across different applications Improved communication fosters better collaboration within teams. This can lead to streamlined project execution and enhanced client interactions.. Reduced Learning Curve for New Technologies Copilot provides context-aware guidance and suggestions. All while you work with your familiar Microsoft 365 applications. This can significantly reduce the learning curve for new employees. It allows them to become proficient in using the full potential of the suite more quickly. Imagine onboarding new team members with ease. As well as empowering them to contribute meaningfully from day one. Real-World Applications of Copilot within Your SMB Copilot’s capabilities extend beyond generic productivity enhancements. Here’s a glimpse into how different roles within your SMB can leverage Copilot: Marketing and Sales Teams Generate compelling marketing copy for social media campaigns. Craft tailored sales emails with targeted messaging. Develop engaging presentations with Copilot’s creative text suggestions and language model capabilities. Customer Service Representatives Respond to customer inquiries with increased efficiency and accuracy. Use Copilot’s AI-powered suggestions for crafting clear and concise responses. Imagine resolving customer issues faster and fostering a more positive customer experience.. Project Managers Develop comprehensive project plans. Automate progress reports with a few text prompts. Collaborate seamlessly with team members using Copilot’s intelligent features. Streamline project management. Ensure everyone is on the same page from conception to completion. Content Creators Overcome writer’s block and generate fresh ideas for website copy. Teams can leverage Copilot’s help in brainstorming and content creation in many areas. Imagine producing high-quality content consistently. All while keeping modern audiences engaged and driving brand awareness. Finance and Accounting Teams Automate data entry tasks and improve data analysis with Copilot’s intelligent features. Generate reports with prompts for enhanced clarity. Imagine no more struggling to create reports. Gain valuable insights from data faster. Getting Started with Copilot for Microsoft 365 The good news is that Copilot for Microsoft 365 is readily accessible to SMBs. It integrates seamlessly with your existing environment. Here’s how you can empower your team to leverage this powerful tool: Ensure Compatibility: Copilot is currently available for businesses with Microsoft 365 Business Premium or Business Standard. Activate Copilot: Buy the Copilot add-on to your subscription. Then, as needed, contact your IT support team for help using it within your Microsoft 365 apps. Explore and Experiment: Microsoft Copilot offers intuitive features. All within your familiar Microsoft 365 applications. Start experimenting with its capabilities. Discover how it can enhance your workflow and productivity. Invest in Training: Copilot is user-friendly. But you should still consider providing brief training sessions for employees. This helps ensure they understand the tool’s full potential. As well as assists them with leveraging its capabilities effectively. Improve Your Team’s Use of Microsoft 365 Copilot for Microsoft 365 is not just another software update. It’s a game-changer for small businesses. By embracing this innovative AI tool, you can unlock a new level of efficiency. As well as empower your employees to achieve more. Article used with permission from The Technology Press. Need some help from our Microsoft 365 experts? Our team can guide you in using this resource to the fullest. Contact Ohnyx today0800 646 [email protected] Get in Touch today
AI: Evolution in Technology
AI: Evolution in Technology A discussion on OpenAI, Copilot and what it can provide for your business. It was a great turn out for a cold winter evening last week for the AI: Evolution in Technology event in collaboration with Tupu Ana at Ten O’Clock Cookie in Masterton. With over 40 of us packed into Ten CC to enjoy delectable treats and great company, everyone was ready to hear about OpenAI, Copilot and what it can provide for your business. Presented by Philip Harvey, Ohnyx’ Director of Technical & Operations, Philip discussed how AI has already been a part of our lives for the past 15 years. AI is turning up everywhere now, but what’s new is how we can use it, not AI itself. OpenAI has opened the doors to numerous opportunities with its new innovative AI modelling. One such innovation is Microsoft taking OpenAI’s model and using it in their workspace under the name Copilot. Philip did a brilliant job demystifying Copilot for 365. He explained Copilot works best as a tool in the hands of an expert, doing 60% of the work. Covering off the hard yards. You will still need to do other 40%. This includes fact checking, tweaking the voice to be suitable for your audience, and of course adding your own flare. Copilot is set to create labor efficiencies, the look and shape of this depends on your business. Key questions to ask yourself are: What do I want to do more of? What do I want to do less of? What are the pain points? The presentation focused on broad questions and demonstrating Copilot live with audience interaction. Looking at how these efficiencies can be gained in your company will require a more in-depth discussion. Philip cautioned the need to ensure your Microsoft Tenancy (organisation data) is ready for Copilot. Data needs to be ring fenced and permissions checked, such as finance and human resource data. Copilot will scan all accessible data and provide access where permissions allow. The live demo was the most impressive part of the night. Philip requested suggestions from the audience to challenge Copilots creative abilities. In no time, complete Word essays and PowerPoint presentations were generated on these topics; sausage rolls, garden gnomes, and the strengths and weakness of the New Zealand Electoral system. Each PowerPoint had professional design, content and photos that matched the topic. It was incredible to see how fast you could go from a concept to a full presentation. This is just one example of the benefits your company could achieve. Special thanks to Philip for presenting, Nicola and Anja at Tupu Ana for organising the event, and to Monique and the team at Ten O’Clock Cookie for hosting us. If you’re keen to discover more about Copilot, get in touch with Ohnyx today. We would love to sit down with you to understand your companies challenges, the repetitive tasks that take so much time, that Copilot could potentially take care of. Contact Ohnyx today0800 646 [email protected] Get in Touch today
How Small Businesses Are Unlocking Growth With Generative AI
How Small Businesses Are Unlocking Growth With Generative AI Staying ahead in business often means embracing cutting-edge technologies. New tools can unlock new avenues for growth. Especially for small businesses. SMBs are often looking for affordable ways to gain a competitive advantage. One such transformative force is Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI). This is a technology that goes beyond automation and the AI we used to know. It can create content, solutions, and possibilities before unimaginable. It’s so revolutionary that it’s hard to go online without seeing it everywhere. Do you have a small business seeking to grow? Looking for innovative ways to navigate the competitive landscape? Generative AI can be a powerful ally. It can drive creativity, efficiency, and growth. Let’s look at how small businesses are harnessing the potential of Generative AI. Using it to elevate their marketing strategies, streamline operations, and foster innovation. The Rise of Generative AI in Small Business Marketing The landscape of small business marketing is evolving rapidly. The integration of AI technologies is reshaping strategies for growth. Small businesses are turning to GenAI to enhance their marketing efforts. This is one example of how they are leveraging it to improve profitability. 60% of SMBs say attracting new customers is their biggest challenge. While 30% say it’s marketing to prospective clients. Not surprisingly, 74% expressed interest in using AI to help. 91% of surveyed SMBs say AI has made their business more successful. This advanced form of AI enables businesses to generate things like: Images Ideas Customer solutions Companies can do it at the push of a button. This reduces manual effort and unlocks new possibilities for creativity. How Are Small Businesses Using GenAI? 1. Image & Content Creation and Personalization Generative AI is revolutionizing image and content creation. It automates the generation of diverse and engaging visuals. Using text prompts, you can generate countless image styles. Plus, create photos and graphics that resonate with target audiences. Small businesses can leverage GenAI to personalize marketing messages. This improves customer engagement and builds stronger connections. 2. Enhanced Customer Experience Small businesses strive to differentiate themselves through exceptional customer experiences. Generative AI can play a pivotal role. AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants provide instant responses. They offer a seamless and efficient communication channel. This enhances customer satisfaction. It also frees up staff to focus on strategic aspects of relationship management. 3. Data Analysis and Decision-Making Generative AI excels at analyzing vast datasets. As well as extracting insights and informing data-driven decision-making. Small businesses can harness the power of AI algorithms. It can help them understand market trends as well as customer behaviors and competitive landscapes. This data-driven approach enables more informed marketing strategies. This helps business owners optimize resource allocation. As well as maximize the impact of marketing campaigns. 4. Innovative Product Development The creative capabilities of GenAI extend to product development. Businesses can use AI to generate innovative ideas and concepts. This includes designing new products and refining existing ones. AI-driven tools provide a unique perspective. One that can spark creativity. As well as set small businesses on a path of continuous innovation. 5. Efficient Social Media Management Social media has become a cornerstone of small business marketing. Generative AI is streamlining social media management. AI tools can analyze social media trends. They can also schedule posts for optimal engagement. And even generate relevant hashtags and captions. This automation allows small businesses to maintain a consistent social media presence. Empowering Small Businesses for Future Growth Generative AI stands at the forefront of technological innovation. It offers small businesses a gateway. One to enhance creativity, efficiency, and growth. Those who harness the power of AI will gain a competitive edge. It can help smaller companies reach new heights of success. As well as do it affordably. Small businesses that embrace GenAI can streamline their operations and marketing. They can also foster a culture of innovation that propels them into the future. We’re now in a world where adaptability is key. GenAI provides small businesses with the tools to keep pace with industry changes. It also gives them the power to lead the way. The growth potential unlocked by Generative AI extends beyond marketing. It permeates every aspect of business operations. This paves the way for a future where small businesses thrive. Well, the ones that capitalize on the innovation and strategic advantage. Article used with permission from The Technology Press. Learn more ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot On the 18th June 2024 Ohnyx is presenting for Business Wairarapa to discuss the role of ChatGPT and AI in the Microsoft world (co-pilot). Register for this event today to stay up to date with the fast changing world of AI. Register Here Contact Ohnyx today0800 646 [email protected] Get in Touch today