If you’ve made ‘AI adoption’ and ‘AI application’ two of your strategic goals this year, there’s an important first step you need to take.
In our last article, we explored how New Zealand SMEs can take their first steps with AI – starting small, using familiar tools, and focusing on practical outcomes.
With anything new, there are some of us who go all in, adopting the latest tools of the trade to seemingly make life easier for ourselves. Then there are those who embrace change, albeit a little hesitantly, and those who are completely averse to potential new risks that may arise.
If you’ve made ‘AI adoption’ and ‘AI application’ two of your strategic goals this year, there’s an important first step you need to take. Review your organisational culture.
Why? Because you want to ensure you have a culture that embraces change.
Why build a culture that embraces change?
Technology adoption is as much about mindset as it is about software. The most successful businesses treat AI as part of a broader shift towards continuous improvement by:
- encouraging staff to explore new tools and share what they learn
- setting clear goals for what success looks like (e.g. “reduce admin hours by 20%”)
- celebrating the small wins to build momentum
When teams are empowered to experiment and learn, change becomes less intimidating.
How can you lead through change?
It’s natural for people to feel uncertain about new technology. Some may worry that AI could replace their role; others might simply feel overwhelmed by yet another “new system.”
As a leader, acknowledging these feelings is crucial. Change is easier to embrace when people understand the why behind it. Be transparent about how AI will support not replace your team and invest in helping them develop the confidence and skills to use it well.
In light of the results from the 2025 MYOB Business Monitor, which revealed only 32% of New Zealand SMEs are currently using AI in their operations, business owners who can bridge the gap between reluctance and implementation will see benefits.
The difference lies in application. Businesses that align their culture with their goals – empowering people to explore, test, and learn – will be able to move faster, make smarter decisions, and see real, measurable results.
Three steps to creating an AI-ready culture
Building an organisational culture that embraces change doesn’t happen overnight; rather it starts with small, intentional actions that connect directly to business outcomes.
- Start small, but visible: Choose one process to automate or optimise. For example, it could be invoice management, payroll reconciliation, or cashflow forecasting, and share the results with your team.
- Create internal champions: Identify team members who are naturally curious or tech-comfortable to support others. Promote them to be your AI ambassadors.
- Review and adapt: Ask for input and feedback before rolling out new tools and then celebrate what worked, discuss what didn’t, and refine together. Be transparent as to what and why you’re adopting any new practices.
Connecting culture to business outcomes
An organisation that has a culture which embraces change doesn’t just make AI adoption easier, it will help to strengthen your business. When an openness to embrace change becomes part of your organisational DNA, your team can respond faster, take advantage of new tools, and maximise opportunities.
That cultural resilience is what sets high-performing SMEs apart and it’s something technology alone can’t deliver. As AI continues to mature, the opportunity gap between those who adopt it thoughtfully and those who delay will grow wider.
Ready to take the next step?
If your business is exploring how AI could fit into your strategy, start by looking inward at your people, your mindset, and your appetite for learning. With the right culture in place, AI will become less about technology and more about transformation. Turn your team’s curiosity into capability and growth.
Get in touch with the Auctus team for trusted guidance on adopting AI into your business processes.
