From Local Shops to Future Business Kings: How Will AI Rewrite the Fate of SMEs?
In the 21st-century information age, artificial intelligence and computing power are no longer isolated technical or academic fields. They profoundly impact every industry, every profession, and even every aspect of our daily lives. From autonomous vehicles to smart homes, from medical diagnoses to financial forecasting, artificial intelligence is redefining our world. For SMEs, this is not just a technological upgrade, but a major transformation in business models and thinking, an opportunity to redefine competitiveness. Just like "Ocado Group" in the United States, "KRY" in Sweden, and "Trax" in Singapore, these companies are beneficiaries of the AI revolution, proving that through digital transformation, SMEs can also shine on the global stage, as detailed below:
"Ocado Group" in the United States: Although Ocado initially appeared as an online supermarket, its technology division has successfully developed various robotic technologies for warehouse management. They use AI to optimize logistics processes, automatically sorting and transporting goods, significantly improving efficiency. Today, Ocado Group provides real-time online operating services for eight retailers worldwide. Their demand forecasting system can predict sales of over 58,000 different products sold on Ocado.com, while the "instant order" feature applies time series analysis to review historical shopping patterns to accurately predict what customers want in their basket now. They also utilize machine learning programs to predict the usage rate of customers' household items and suggest products that customers may have already run out of.
"KRY" in Sweden: This company provides remote medical services, allowing patients to consult with doctors via video call directly through their mobile phones or computers. Using AI, KRY also offers a symptom checker tool to help patients initially assess their condition. To date, it has accumulated over 200 million patient interactions, enabling patients to see a doctor, nurse, or psychologist online within minutes. It also combines digital and physical care, transforming how millions of people access high-quality healthcare. This means patients can digitally seek care for more symptoms, find clinics and speak with specialists when needed, view prescription details in the app, and even directly order home delivery of medicines in some markets. More importantly, KRY compiles a complete care record for each customer, allowing clinicians to track the patient's medication history and health information throughout.
"Trax" in Singapore: Trax is a company that provides retail solutions, utilizing AI and computer vision technology to analyze product placement and inventory management within stores, allowing sellers to stay informed about what's happening on store shelves at all times. This enables sellers to focus on what they do best: delighting buyers. With Trax data and insights, sellers gain visibility into changing store conditions and SKUs, which not only allows for better planning and execution of retail strategies but also better engagement with shoppers, helping to reduce costs and accelerate revenue growth through every real-time, data-driven decision and action.
The above examples clearly show that artificial intelligence and computing power are bringing revolutionary changes to SMEs worldwide. However, not all SMEs have the capability or resources to undertake such a technological transformation independently. In Taiwan, due to its excellent technological environment, the government has the opportunity and ability to assist SMEs in digital transformation. Through financial aid, technical training, and resource sharing, the government can help SMEs find their position in this wave of technology, achieve "proactive deployment," and meet future digital challenges. As artificial intelligence and computing power continue to advance, the competitive environment for SMEs is also becoming more intense. Only by maintaining a keen market awareness and timely technological innovation can SMEs stay ahead in this race.