In a country where small and medium enterprises (SMEs) contribute about 50% of the Gross Gross Internal Product (GDP), digital transformation is consolidated as a fundamental pillar to achieve global competitiveness. Within this context, tools such as artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing are leading change, allowing companies to improve their efficiency and optimize their processes.
According to the “AI in SMEs: Trends, challenges and opportunities” report, 31% of small Argentine companies have already invested in artificial intelligence, while 78% plans to allocate resources to this field in the near future.
“We are witnessing a transcendental change in the business scene. The new SMEs arise with a digital mentality that drives the innovation of forms never seen before. These companies not only use technology, but make it the engine of its competitive advantage, ”said Microsoft spokesmen.
The effect of these technological investments is clear: 87% of SMEs that have adopted artificial intelligence solutions have experienced significant increases in their productivity, with an average improvement of 43%. This advance highlights the crucial role that technology plays in the development and competitiveness of these organizations.
Daniel RosatoPresident of Argentine SMEs Industrials, highlighted the importance of AI for competitiveness: “It is a very strong bet in the future. All those who are being able to apply are doing it. In the short term, it is a fact that the application will extend to all the companies that can apply it. ” However, he acknowledged that the economic crisis and the fall in demand are limiting investment in technology in some sectors.
“AI is essential to improve competitiveness and increase productivity. That is something extremely important. Not all companies are making an investment in this regard, but we believe it is the future, ”Rosato added.
“Today, given the situation, there are companies that are not thinking of investing, because they have no room to expand. On the contrary, they are shrinking, they lose sales, productivity. However, AI is there, at your fingertips. It is something that can help overcome the crisis situation and grow, ”he observed.
With regard to the items that are best adapting to the Revolution of Artificial Intelligence, Rosato highlighted the textile industry, which adopts new technology for design and development. “There is also a very important field of action in robotics. In sectors where technology is more advanced. A furniture factory or one of bombs can use AI with good results, ”he said.
For its part, Alfredo Gonzálezpresident of the Argentine Confederation of the Medium Enterprises (CAME), said that AI is being implemented in different forms in all sectors: “He who adapts faster and generates tools and processes through AI, considering the format That we have in our country, it will take advantage over others. ” González also highlighted the need for lower tax pressure so that SMEs can advance more quickly in technological adoption.
“It depends on the sector the use that can be given. AI can intervene in all kinds of processes, from a legal consultation to financial decision making. At another time we came with Japan systems (Kaizen system), with production systems that was the most technological. AI is a completely different advance. Pandemia also caused a rapid technological leap, mainly in our country, where changes usually get slower, ”González added.
For its part, in dialogue with Infobae, Wilson PaisCloud AI & Digital Ecosystems for Microsoft Latin America, stressed that the adoption of AI in Argentina follows a trend similar to that of other countries in the region. “70% of Argentine SMEs are seeking to adopt in their operations, a proportion that reaches 86% in the case of digital natives.” Among the sectors that invest in AI are the manufacturing industry, health and commerce, ”according to the latest IDC study on artificial intelligence in South America Hispanic.
Digital native companies show the highest levels of adoption, with 43% use of AI in 2023 compared to 29% of SMEs in general. “Today we witness a turning point in the adoption of technology by small businesses in our region,” said Pais.
The main uses of artificial intelligence include virtual assistants for customer service (46%), generation of images and content (43%) and programs to optimize work processes (41%). “These solutions not only improve efficiency, but also allow companies to offer better experiences to their customers and make more informed decisions,” said PAIS.
Despite the enthusiasm for AI, the adoption of this technology presents important challenges for SMEs. The lack of financial resources, the need for staff training and economic uncertainty are some of the obstacles that companies face by trying to implement solutions based on AI.
However, the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence are enormous. “Technology, especially the cloud and artificial intelligence, have become the great enabling that allows SMEs to prosper in an increasingly competitive global market,” said Wilson Pais. “As these tools adopt more companies, the Argentine business ecosystem is expected to experience a significant transformation,” he said.
In summary, artificial intelligence is redefining the scenario of SMEs in Argentina. With a growing adoption and a clear perception of its benefits, AI is positioned as a key tool to improve the productivity and competitiveness of companies.
However, for its implementation to be successful, it is essential that SMEs have the necessary support in terms of training, financing and tax incentives. For specialists, the future of Argentine SMEs will depend largely on their ability to take advantage of this technological revolution.
“According to the latest artificial intelligence study in Hispanic South America conducted by IDC, the AI market showed a 26.3% growth in the region, a figure that grows at 29.5% in Argentina. This shows a trend in the Argentine business ecosystem that also manages to implement AI solutions in less than 12 months in 89% of cases, versus 76% in South America, ”said Pais.
There are many examples that can be used to reflect how companies are adopting artificial intelligence for the development of their businesses. An example is that of Seedsan Argentine platform that is redefining the hiring processes through artificial intelligence. With a precision that exceeds 90% in the identification of ideal candidates, Seeds has managed to reduce the time necessary to validate talent by 30%, completely transforming the recruitment process from its initial phase.
The companies that use the areas such as customer service, marketing and communication, sales and IT, with digital natives, showing greater adoption of Ay compared to non -native are also in Argentina. Some examples are Mozart, Kuad System, Cabure, Ucrop.it and Agrobit.
Other countries in the region follow the same trend, investing in systems that allow them to improve their day -to -day performance.
Klog.co, a Chilean logistics company exemplifies this scenario. What began as a small business with the vision of simplifying international trade, today uses artificial intelligence models to revolutionize the way in which shipping documents are handled, such as goods receipts, transport contracts and property titles.
Another example is Dibankaa Colombian Fintech that has reduced the processing time of payroll loans from 15 days to just a few hours, thanks to the use of cognitive services and cloud facial recognition, which has allowed to offer a more accessible and fast service to its customers.
Finally, Damapa Uruguayan software company has implemented the cloud to automate the reconciliation of financial transactions, reducing the necessary time from days to minutes and allowing businesses to concentrate on more strategic tasks. In addition, automation has generated considerable savings in expenses for organizations that use their solutions.
