The AI Advantage: How Small Businesses Can Compete Like the Big Guys

Recently, I had the opportunity to join the UnHacked Podcast with Justin Shelley, and Mario Zaki, diving deep into a topic at the core of what we do at Digital Meld: how AI is reshaping the playing field for small and mid-sized businesses. If you’ve ever wondered whether your business can truly “punch above its weight class” with the right approach to automation and artificial intelligence, this episode is packed with answers.

AI as the Great Equalizer

At Digital Meld, we believe technology can level the playing field. During this candid conversation, I shared real-world ways small and mid-size businesses can tap into AI and automation, using the tools they already pay for within platforms like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, to unlock efficiency, compete with enterprise players, and reclaim hours of lost productivity.

But the AI advantage isn’t just technical. It’s about mindset. If there’s one thing I’ve learned working across startups and Fortune 500 enterprises, it’s that agility beats bureaucracy every time. Small businesses are uniquely positioned to act quickly, sidestep “paralysis by analysis,” and innovate, often with fewer roadblocks than larger organizations.

Practical Wins with Everyday AI

On the podcast, we broke down actionable steps any business can take:

• Start with what you do every day: Automate routine actions, whether it’s meeting notes with Microsoft Copilot or invoice processing with Power Automate.

• Leverage what you already have: Most firms underutilize their cloud subscriptions. You might already have best-in-class automation tools at your fingertips.

• Put humans in the loop: The best AI solutions augment, not replace your team, freeing up their time for work that drives growth.

• Lay your data foundation early: Your business’s data is your “secret sauce”, and the sooner you start organizing and capturing it, the faster you can build intelligence on top.

We also touched on the importance of being a problem-solver and continuous learner in the shifting AI landscape. Those who pair industry expertise with smart tech adoption are poised to become indispensable.

A Candid Take on Challenges and Opportunities

We didn’t shy away from discussing hard truths: Not every process is ripe for automation, and not every automation project will be ROI-positive from day one. But the cost of waiting is far greater. As I put it on the show, “Don’t be afraid: start small, think big.” The only way to break through is to begin, iterate, and let the lightbulb moments drive the next wave of innovation.

A recurring theme: The democratization of technology means that what once required enterprise budgets is now accessible to anyone. From construction firms to manufacturers, we’re helping clients plug AI into their core workflows, accelerating everything from accounts payable to project reporting.

Key Takeaways

If you take just one thing from my UnHacked Podcast appearance, let it be this:

You’re probably already sitting on a gold mine of AI-powered tools. Leverage them. Automate what you hate. Focus your best energy on what sets you apart.

And if you’re unsure where to start, remember: You don’t need permission to move forward.

🎧 Listen to the full episode on UnHacked Podcast and discover how to future-proof your business in an AI-powered world.

Want to discuss how these principles can apply to your business? Reach out, let’s turn technology into your strategic edge.

– Brad