AI in an SME: Meet the AI Awards 2026 Finalists

What Can Other SMEs Learn from These Applications?

Although the four finalists operate in different industries, their applications highlight several important considerations for smaller businesses exploring AI.

1. Trust and Accuracy Matter as Much as Speed

AI can produce answers quickly, but businesses need confidence that those answers are accurate and based on reliable information.

This is particularly important in areas such as regulatory compliance and financial services, where incorrect information can have significant consequences.

Organisations should consider whether AI-generated recommendations can be traced to their sources, how uncertain results are handled and when human review is required.

2. Turn Business Data into Useful Decisions

Many SMEs already collect substantial amounts of information but struggle to turn it into practical insights.

Conversational AI and intelligent analytics can make that information easier to explore without requiring specialist technical skills.

However, the real measure of success is not simply how quickly a report can be generated. It is whether the information helps someone make a decision, identify a problem or complete a task more effectively.

3. Build Human Oversight into the Process

Not every business decision should be delegated to AI.

For applications involving compliance, financial information or operational recommendations, organisations need clear boundaries around what the technology can do independently and what requires human approval.

Separating AI-generated explanations from verified calculations, business rules and approval processes can help businesses introduce automation without losing control.

4. Make AI Work with Existing Processes

An AI application is only useful if it fits the way people actually work. For SMEs, this means considering how a tool connects with existing records, systems and daily routines.

Testing with real business data, including incomplete or outdated information, can reveal problems that may not appear in a demonstration.

Involving employees early also helps ensure that new technology addresses genuine operational needs rather than introducing unnecessary complexity.

Starting Small and Measuring What Matters

For SMEs considering their first AI project, the most effective starting point is often a single, clearly defined business process.

Rather than introducing AI across multiple departments at once, businesses can identify a recurring task, establish how it currently works and test whether AI delivers a measurable improvement.

Four questions can help guide that evaluation:

• Time: Does AI reduce the time required to complete the entire task, including checking and review?

• Quality: Are the results accurate, consistent and reliable?

• Usefulness: Does the technology help employees complete their work or make better decisions?

• Control: Are responsibilities, approvals and human oversight clearly defined?

A limited pilot with clear objectives allows businesses to assess the results before committing to a wider rollout.

It also creates an opportunity to refine the process, address weaknesses or decide that AI is not the right solution for a particular task.

Recognising AI Innovation Among Irish SMEs

The four finalists in the Best Application of AI in an SME category demonstrate the range of opportunities emerging for smaller businesses.

From regulatory compliance and retail intelligence to financial guidance and agriculture, Adherent, Advise, Dimply and Herdwatch are exploring how AI can address practical challenges in their respective industries.

Their applications also highlight a broader point: meaningful AI innovation is not limited to large enterprises with substantial technology budgets.

For SMEs, success can begin with identifying one important problem, applying the right technology and demonstrating that it makes a difference to the people using it.