AI Is Moving Fast, but Many SMBs Are Still Catching Up

AI is moving fast. There is no doubt about that.

At Fishtank Consultancy, we are very positive about AI and its potential. We see real value in it and actively work with AI enabled solutions. This is not an anti AI view.

It is a realistic one, based on what we see with our customers.

Across many SMBs we work with, the challenge is not a lack of interest in AI. The challenge is more fundamental. Core processes are still partly manual. Data lives across Excel files, emails, shared folders, and multiple systems. Tools exist, but they are not always fully adopted or consistently used.

This is something we see across regions, including Europe and LATAM. While some organisations are digitally advanced, many are still focused on stabilising their foundations before they can truly benefit from automation or AI.

That does not make them less ambitious. It reflects where they are today.

In our experience, AI works best when processes are clear, data is structured, and teams trust and use their tools. Without that foundation, AI often adds complexity instead of removing it.

This is where expectations can become misaligned. Introducing advanced solutions before the basics are in place can slow progress and create frustration, even when the technology itself is strong.

At Fishtank Consultancy, we see digital transformation as a journey. It starts with clarity, adoption, and simple tools that work well day to day. Automation follows. AI comes when it can genuinely amplify what is already in place.

For many SMBs, the most impactful step today is not rolling out AI everywhere to follow a trend, but focusing on sustainable improvements that create long term value.

That approach allows organisations to adopt AI with confidence, at the right moment, and for the right reasons.