When SMEs approach me about adopting AI, they typically ask: “What AI use cases can I use in my business?” While it seems like a straightforward question, finding the right AI application is not a one-size-fits-all exercise. It’s more art than science, requiring an understanding of both the business context and AI readiness.

Beyond the AI Buzzword

Let us be honest – the buzz around AI has created a situation where many SMEs feel pressured to “do AI” without understanding what that means for their specific business. I have seen too many companies implementing AI for AI’s sake, rather than solving actual business problems.

At AI Singapore, we have developed a more structured approach through our AI Readiness Index (AIRI). Before suggesting use cases, we need to understand where a company stands in its AI journey. Are they AI Unaware, AI Aware, AI Ready, or AI Competent? Each level requires different AI interventions and hence potential AI use cases that can be have positive ROI.

The exciting news is that I have now made this process even more accessible. My virtual AI advisor, LLX, built on the knowledge from my book “AI-First Nation”, my articles and access to the internet, can now help SMEs discover relevant AI use cases through conversation. By chatting with LLX, you can explore potential AI applications tailored to your specific industry and readiness level – no complex forms or technical jargon required.

Matching Use Cases to AI Readiness

Let me walk you through how we align AI use cases with a company’s AIRI score:

AI Unaware Companies

For companies just beginning their AI journey, suggesting complex deep learning solutions is setting them up for failure. Instead, we focus on foundational applications that build understanding and confidence:

• Simple rule-based automation of repetitive tasks
• Pre-built AI services like basic chatbots or sentiment analysis
• Data collection and organization initiatives to prepare for future AI projects

These companies are not ready for our 100E programme yet. We typically direct them to AI4E (AI for Everyone) to build awareness first. The key is to start small, show value, and build momentum.

LLX can be particularly valuable here – it can help AI Unaware companies understand basic AI concepts and identify starter use cases that match their current capabilities through a natural conversation that feels like talking to a consultant.

AI Aware Companies

Companies at this stage understand the potential of AI but lack the technical infrastructure or expertise to implement complex solutions. Suitable use cases include:

• Enhanced automation using pre-trained models
• Customer segmentation and basic predictive analytics
• Using low-code/no-code AI platforms for specific business processes

For these companies, we recommend AI Clinics and AI Discovery Workshops to identify and prioritize potential AI applications before jumping into implementation. We also introduce them to short industry projects (SIPs) where appropriate.

By engaging with LLX, AI Aware companies can explore a wider range of potential use cases tailored to their industry and specific business challenges. LLX draws from our extensive knowledge base of successful implementations to suggest applications that have worked for similar businesses.

AI Ready Companies

Now we are talking about companies with data infrastructure in place and at least basic AI expertise on staff. These organizations are prime candidates for the 100E programme, where we can tackle use cases like:

• Custom machine learning models for business-specific problems
• Process optimization through predictive maintenance
• Computer vision for quality control or inventory management
• Natural language processing for document analysis or customer insights

These companies can benefit from collaborating with our AI engineers and apprentices to build production-grade AI solutions tailored to their needs.

LLX can help AI Ready companies refine their use case selection by analyzing their specific industry challenges and matching them with relevant 100E success stories. It can also provide guidance on the technical considerations for implementation – all accessible through a simple chat interface.

AI Competent Companies

For the small percentage of SMEs that have advanced AI capabilities, we focus on cutting-edge applications and ecosystem contributions:

• Multimodal AI systems combining various data types
• Generative AI for product development or design
• Reinforcement learning for complex optimization problems
• Contributing to open-source AI tools or participating in research collaborations

These companies often become partners in multiple 100E projects. Even for AI Competent organizations, LLX can provide value by suggesting innovative applications at the cutting edge of AI development, based on global trends and research that might not be widely known yet (that is the power of internet search combined with an LLM and refined by purposeful prompts!).

Real Examples Drive Understanding

In my experience, nothing helps an SME to understand potential AI applications better than authentic examples from similar industries. Therefore we have documented many 100E projects across sectors – from manufacturing and healthcare to finance and retail.

LLX has been designed to provide these tangible examples automatically. Share your industry (your website url is best) and challenges, and LLX will suggest relevant case studies from our repository of successful implementations and the wider internet. This makes the abstract concrete and helps SMEs envision possibilities for their own operations without waiting for a formal consultation.

The example below is using my favorite kopi and toast cafe – Singapore’s very own Yakun. But please note that Yakun is not a AI Singapore’s 100E or SIP project sponsor. I am using it just because it is also the example I have used in my book and everyone is familiar with Yakun and their business.

The Journey Beyond Use Case Identification

Finding relevant use cases is just the beginning. The real challenge lies in implementation. This is where understanding a company’s AIRI score becomes even more valuable – it helps us recommend the right pathway forward:

• For companies with lower AIRI scores: Focus on capacity building through LearnAI programmes first
• For AI Ready companies: Engage directly with our 100E programme for implementation support
• For those in between: Consider starting with a SIP before taking on larger projects

LLX does not just identify use cases – it can help companies understand their readiness level and provide a customized roadmap for implementation. By analyzing your responses during the conversation, LLX can suggest the most appropriate next steps based on your organization’s current capabilities.

Growing Our Own Timber – One SME at a Time

Singapore’s SMEs are the backbone of our economy, employing about 70%-80% of our workforce. Helping them adopt AI is not just about technological advancement – it is about economic resilience and competitive advantage.

By matching AI use cases to readiness levels, we give SMEs a realistic pathway to becoming AI-first organizations. Some may never need to go beyond being AI Aware, and that is perfectly fine. Others may evolve into AI powerhouses that drive industry innovation.

The key is starting with the right use cases at the right time. As I often say: “It’s not about how advanced your AI is; it’s about how well it solves your business problems. Is there ROI?”

Let us start today. Visit https://aifn.sg and chat with LLX to discover the AI use cases that could transform your business. No lengthy forms, no technical expertise required – just a conversation about your business and its challenges. LLX will help you find your AI use case and chart your path forward. The journey to becoming an AI-first organization begins with identifying the right opportunity, and now that first step is just a chat away.