By Hillary Munedzi
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have been urged to use artificial intelligence (AI) in their businesses so that they have a competitive edge in analyzing data which helps them to understand their business terrain in a bid to attract more customers.
Speaking during a SMEs International Expo at a local hotel, in Harare yesterday, Mr. Paul Smith from Sostac, a marketing guru, said AI can be a vital tool for SMEs in engaging customers which will enhance visibility and an easy way of engaging customers.
“With the advent of social media, people now have short attention spans and it is now reduced from 8 seconds to 4 seconds and we are visually shrunk. When we tailor make our images and headlines as entrepreneurs, they must be small and persuasive,” said Mr. Smith.
Speaking at the same event, Delight Makotose, Managing Director for SMEs International Expo said the cost of data is still high and it is a hindrance to SMEs development since SMEs employ 85% of the workforce.
“Our plea to the digital system providers in the country is for the creation of an enabling environment in that space where the cost of data can be affordable, and bandwidth widened to enable fast transacting and real-time, seamless connectivity.
“Local readiness for digital transformation is evident as 98 percent of our transactions are online. We need to take a cue from Sweden, China, Dubai, Rwanda, and Nigeria. But the digital transformation is an opportunity that SMEs and corporates cannot ignore,” said Mr. Makotose.
Recent progress in the field of AI is largely due to the wide adoption of data-driven statistical methods and breakthroughs in machine learning, supported by greater data availability, increased computing power, and growing algorithmic efficiency.
“Zimbabwe should be keen to embrace ICTs in order to achieve Vision 2030. With the digitalization drive being implemented by the second republic, SMEs are the drivers of this economy since they employ more than 85 percent of the workforce.
“It is imperative that digital transformation should take place at all fronts making sure we remember that Zimbabwe is open for business, and we are part of the global village, ” he said.