If you’re still navigating the world of AI, start small and use existing tools to create quick, measurable wins for your SME.

Cautious or apprehensive about incorporating AI in your small business? You’re not alone. Earlier this year, the 2025 MYOB Business Monitor reported 49 percent of SMEs were measuring a return on investment (ROI) from the use of digital tools but only 32 percent of SME decision-makers were using AI in their business.

For many small or medium-sized business owners in New Zealand, adopting AI and integrating AI tools into operations feels like a potentially fraught process, yet the AI revolution does bring with it time-saving benefits, additional resources and efficiencies.

If you’re still navigating the world of AI, start small and use existing tools to create quick, measurable wins for your SME. This approach also aligns with the New Zealand Government’s AI strategy and its encouragement to businesses to utilise proven AI tools rather than reinventing the wheel.

Here’s a three-step action plan to help your business start benefiting from AI, without hidden complexity or cost.

Step 1: Identify your “data-heavy, decision-light” workflow

AI delivers the greatest return when it automates tasks that consume time yet don’t require complex decision-making or extensive human involvement. Processes such as accounts payable tasks, expense management, or bank reconciliation, that are manual and repetitive rather than strategic are where AI can really be beneficial.

AI adoption: Pick one process and track how much time your team spends on that task in a typical week. Implement a suitable AI tool and aim to reduce the time needed for that task, thus freeing up your team’s time to undertake more value-added initiatives for your SME’s benefit.

Step 2: Implement a “bolt-on” AI tool

There’s already a plethora of AI tools that can plug into and add on to the systems you already use. Products like Dext or Hubdoc (included free with many Xero plans) use advanced AI technology to capture and code financial data automatically. They require almost no technical setup, making them ideal for SMEs.

AI adoption: Choose a tool to integrate into Xero and make a commitment to use it. Each month (or two), adopt another tool as you gain confidence, slowly building up a portfolio of AI tools that help to improve and streamline processes, again freeing your team up for more strategic tasks.

Step 3: Put time saved into strategy

Once automation takes over routine financial processing, the real opportunity begins of redirecting your time from admin to insight. If the hours saved by AI are simply filled with more paperwork, you’ve missed the point. The biggest gain comes from using that time to strengthen your decision-making and planning.

AI adoption: Be curious about AI tools and the different ways they can benefit your business. Making AI work for you to improve productivity and free up time enables you and your team to focus on business development and greater client engagement.

Human connection is crucial to business success: no AI tool can replace that!

Start small, prove the value

AI adoption doesn’t have to be risky, expensive, or disruptive. By focusing on automation tools that integrate with your existing systems, your business can achieve tangible improvements in efficiency, accuracy, and insight.

Get in touch with the Auctus team for trusted guidance on adopting AI into your business processes.