How digitalisation can support competitiveness?
Despite the critical role digitalisation plays in enhancing competitiveness, many SMEs are reluctant to adapt digital technologies. Their reason: a lack of resources, knowledge, and confidence.
This is where new employees can come in.
Speaking during a Digital Essentials for SMEs webinar, Staffan Movin – an expert in creating digital impact for businesses – new employee skills can be an SME’s secret weapon for digitalisation. “SMEs in particular need to understand how they can benefit from the novel skills that the new workforce has and how they can take advantage of these new competencies to boost their competitiveness,” he said.
Movin specifically highlighted how data and artificial intelligence can be used to improve decision-making, customer insights and operational efficiency. He also explored practical data applications, such as using information from single-sheet dispensing machines to optimise facility management, improve service planning, and enhance one’s product portfolio.
Despite the benefits of digitalisation, these benefits do not come risk free. “Cyberattacks can accompany any digital transformation, and both small and large companies are at risk,” said Movin.
Last but not least, Movin discussed how companies can align their digital transformation with sustainable practices. “SMEs need to pursue a ‘twin transformation’, where they adapt business models and competencies while considering their environmental impact,” he concluded.
Meet our partners!
As France’s national research institute for digital science and technology, Inria is the go-to-source for all-things artificial intelligence. It also happens to be the SME4DD project’s Artificial Intelligence guru.
As one of the project's key partners, Inria is instrumental in designing and delivering AI-focused training for SMEs. This includes such courses as Machine Learning: Tech Bricks for SMEs and Scikit-Learn: A Machine Learning Toolbox for SMEs.
You can learn more about this project partner here.
SME4DD by numbers
36
Launched in 2022, SME4DD will run for 36 months, finishing at the end of this year.
Upcoming events
24 July: The ABCs of Diversity - Overcoming Prejudice and Bias
Join SME4DD and Talent Garden for a deep dive into the dynamics of diversity in the workplace. Led by lawyer and anti-discrimination activist Cathy La Torre, the webinar will not only explore how to recognise and overcome the mental barriers that hinder inclusion, but also equip you with the tools you need to foster an inclusive and mindful environment for everyone. The event will be conducted in Italian. More information and registration can be found here.
