Wisdom in the age of Artificial Intelligence: How SMEs can harness AI without losing control
International 29
SPONSORED COLUMN
Wisdom in the age of Artificial Intelligence: How SMEs can harness AI without losing control
Leadership discussions around AI often default to the same shortsighted question: Which tool should we buy?
Making a big impression
Multimodal is the biggest trade show for logistics and shipping in UK. It’ s been around since 2008 and under the leadership of director Robert Jervis seems to get bigger each year
Quality
Not just the numbers – over 300 exhibitors and 15,000 visitors at the NEC Birmingham – impressive as they are. It is the quality of the businesses in the sector – equipment suppliers, IT, logistics, packaging, warehousing( lion’ s share), media, industry associations, training, professional services and of course the ports and shipping lines.
Entertaining
On the first night of the three-day event, Rory Bremner, hosted a gala dinner and awards ceremony which is spoken of with awe as the industry’ s highlight of the year. Bremner, still one of the best impressionists around, had the 1,000 guests in the palm of his hand and was hugely entertaining especially with his take on US President Donald Trump.
Setting the pace
There were fifteen awards in total with DHL Global Forwarding picking up the air freight company of the year and DP World being crowned the port champion. Jervis praised all the winners.“ From the businesses driving sustainability and technology forward to the individuals shaping the next generation of talent, this is a sector that keeps setting the pace.”
Next year’ s Multimodal at NEC Birmingham takes place 29 June – 1 July
www. multimodal. org. uk
But this misses a far more strategic starting point. Instead, they should ask: Which underperforming business workflow are we aiming to fix right now?
Amidst an explosion of AI hype and half-completed pilots, organisations using AI typically stumble into two extremes: treating AI as a scattered collection of productivity gadgets or attempting enterprise transformations before the operational foundations( and the data that underpins those foundations) are ready.
True competitive advantage does not emerge simply from acquiring AI or deploying flashy tools. It transpires from how organisations reinvest the operational capacity freed up by AI. For instance, channelling it towards deepening customer engagement, accelerating sales, fostering innovation, and enhancing decision-making.
For SMEs navigating this complex landscape, the strongest AI initiatives begin with clarity and discipline. They require a well-defined business problem, a designated and accountable owner, and an understanding of the metrics required to measure real impact. Leaders must adopt a mindset that identifies workflow bottlenecks and thoughtfully assesses where AI can enhance efficiency, versus where critical human judgment should take the lead.
Andriy Panasenko
This practical approach has been echoed by academic insights, such as those from IE University and Santander, which emphasise starting with a focused, feasible use case, testing it responsibly and measuring the result before scaling.
While AI excels at drafting, classifying, and analysing, human oversight remains a non-negotiable for commercial commitments, risk management, and regulatory compliance. Control is not an impediment to speed. Rather it is the prerequisite for safe and sustainable scaling.
For private equity-backed SMEs and global corporations alike, the lesson is clear. Competitive advantage will not be won simply by accumulating more AI tools or increasing technology budgets. It will come from a disciplined organisational focus on optimising the workflows that matter most. It will emerge by preserving human judgment where it truly counts and converting the efficiencies gained into better customer experiences and stronger commercial outcomes.
Those who master this balance will unlock AI’ s transformative potential, not as a silver bullet, but as a catalyst for meaningful and lasting business growth.
http:// www. renaissance-advisory. london /