Understanding the Role of an AI Consultant

An AI consultant doesn’t just plug in tech for the sake of novelty. Their job is to look at your business challenges and find ways for AI to make a real impact. If a problem calls for automation, they find the right tools to eliminate time-consuming tasks. If you’re swimming in data, they’ll help turn it into insights that drive smarter decisions. In other words, a good AI consultant isn’t a tech enthusiast – they’re a problem-solver with a strategic mindset.

At Emerge Digital, for instance, we take a solution-first approach, evaluating your needs before suggesting the best tool for the job. Whether that’s Microsoft 365 Copilot or a custom AI model, it’s all about finding what works best for your business – not forcing a particular technology where it doesn’t fit.

Why Would an SME Need an AI Consultant?

For SMEs, resources are often limited, and investments need to be made wisely. AI consultancy can help maximise these investments, ensuring that every pound spent brings real, measurable value. Here’s where an AI consultant’s impact is most felt:

Streamlining Operations

Repetitive, time-heavy tasks can drain resources. With AI, these processes can be automated, freeing up your team for work that drives growth.

Turning Data into Decisions

From predictive analytics to real-time reporting, AI helps you make choices based on what’s actually happening in your business rather than on guesswork.

Improving Customer Experience

Today’s customers expect speed and personalisation. AI can improve customer interactions by delivering tailored, efficient service that builds loyalty.

Giving You a Competitive Edge

By investing in AI, SMEs can make moves that aren’t possible with traditional approaches. AI enables agility, helping you stay ahead of your competitors by responding to market demands faster and more efficiently.

 

The Business Outcomes of AI

For SME leaders, the question is: what business outcomes will AI actually deliver? Here are some of the most immediate benefits:

Increased Efficiency

By automating routine tasks, AI can drive efficiency gains across departments. The result? Faster processes and a team that can focus on the bigger picture.

Better Decisions, Faster

AI can process data and surface insights you’d never spot manually. Whether it’s customer trends or operational bottlenecks, AI gives you the clarity to act quickly and effectively.

Enhanced Customer Experiences

AI allows you to personalise and streamline service, helping you deliver a customer experience that feels less like a transaction and more like a tailored solution. This is what keeps clients coming back.

Boosted Profit Margins

Every efficiency gain and customer win helps to drive profitability. With the right AI strategy, even incremental improvements can stack up to create significant financial benefits.

 

How to Find the Right AI Consultant for Your Project

Not all AI consultants are created equal. When searching for a partner, look for qualities that ensure they’ll make a real difference:

1. A Business-First Approach

A good consultant sees AI as a tool, not a goal. They should ask about your business challenges before they ever mention a technology. Emerge Digital’s Digital Business Strategy is a perfect example of this. We start with understanding your business objectives and then recommend AI solutions that make sense for your needs.

2. Experience with SMEs

The challenges of a 50-person company aren’t the same as those of a large enterprise, so an SME-savvy consultant will suggest solutions that suit your scale and resources.

3. Proven Results

Testimonials, case studies, and a track record of measurable results will help you identify consultants who can deliver. Anyone can talk a big game – make sure they can back it up.

4. A Strategic Partner

AI isn’t a “set it and forget it” solution. The best consultants will help you build a roadmap for the future, adapting and optimising your AI solutions as your business evolves.

 

The Emerge Digital Approach: Digital Business Strategy

At Emerge Digital, we see AI as part of a larger picture – one that involves a Digital Business Strategy tailored to your specific needs. Here’s how we guide our clients from idea to implementation:

Identifying Needs and Opportunities

We start by examining your unique objectives. Are you looking to reduce overheads? Improve productivity? Enhance customer service? With your goals in mind, we map out where AI can make the most impact.

Creating a Strategic Roadmap

Armed with insights, we craft a plan tailored to your business. Whether you need automation tools, data-driven analytics, or AI-enhanced customer service, we develop a practical, phased approach to getting you there. Microsoft 365 Copilot, for instance, is an option if productivity is the focus, but only if it truly aligns with your business’s needs.

Building a Long-Term Partnership

Technology moves fast, and your needs will, too. That’s why our approach is about more than just today’s implementation. As your technology partner, we’re here to keep your solutions relevant, adjusting them to meet the future demands of your business.

 

Conclusion

AI has the potential to transform SME operations, but only if it’s implemented strategically. Partnering with the right consultant can make all the difference, turning complex AI technology into practical tools that solve your business challenges and drive your growth.

Are you ready to explore how AI could enhance your business? Connect with a consultant who understands your industry, listens to your goals, and has a track record of delivering real results. At Emerge Digital, we’re here to guide you from strategy to success – helping you make AI work for you, not the other way around.

 

 

About Us

Digital transformation is moving up the agenda for most businesses in 2024. According to a recent study from Statista, total global spending on digital transformation technology and services is set to reach nearly £2tn in the next 12 months. In the UK, the digital transformation market was worth over £27bn in 2022 and is expected to rise by 27.7% a year until 2030. 

Emerge Digital’s new IT transformation partnerships include OPS-BOX in Gloucester, Weston Aviation, Ritual Coffee Roasters and Circle2Success (C2S) in Cheltenham, and The HR Dept marking a period of sustained growth for Emerge Digital. These partnerships help make up £200k worth of contracts won by Emerge Digital in recent months, and have been instrumental in a 22.5% growth in Emerge Digital’s client base in the last 12 months. 

Working with The HR Dept, a national franchise network providing outsourced HR support to SMEs, Emerge Digital will modernise the company’s CRM system by creating and installing a new system that will be ready for the introduction of AI.  

Felicity Kenny, Managing Director of The HR Dept, said: “With 60+ franchisees across the UK and Republic of Ireland, creating a tailored and effective CRM system which works for each of our franchise businesses is crucial. Emerge Digital is developing a customised and user-friendly CRM system that will help the franchisees manage their client relationships, sales, and marketing activities as well as give us the capabilities to harness AI that will support our internal operations.” 

The technology provider is also providing IT support and cloud services to OPS-BOX, a leading business consultancy specialist in the South West. For Weston Aviation, a company that operates business aviation facilities in airports across the UK and Ireland along with private jet charters worldwide, Emerge Digital has implemented a modern and scalable customer telephony system and is managing a migration to Microsoft 365. 

Finally, Emerge Digital is providing the leading regional leadership network, C2S, with a modern CRM, which can be developed to fit its needs over time amid the organisation’s continued growth. 

Nigel Church, CEO of Emerge Digital, said: “It’s a privilege to be working alongside industry leaders across a wide array of sectors. All our new partnerships are embracing new technologies to streamline and enhance their service and product delivery for their customers and partners. These innovation and IT projects encapsulate the range of services and skills Emerge Digital offers.  

“Providing industry-leading IT and technology solutions from national franchisees to independent SMEs is at the core of what we do, and these recent additions to our client roster are testament to the great work we have been doing in recent months.” 

Pictured: Nigel Church, CEO of Emerge Digital (left), and Nick Weston, CEO of Weston Aviation (right).

The Power of Power Apps in Business Transformation

Power Apps is not just an application development platform; it’s a catalyst for business transformation. Its no-code interface democratises the development process, allowing users to design, build, and deploy applications that solve real-world business problems efficiently. This capability is crucial in today’s business landscape, where agility and responsiveness can set companies apart from their competition.

Emerge Digital harnesses the power of Power Apps to craft tailored solutions for businesses across various sectors. Whether it’s streamlining internal processes, enhancing customer engagement, or facilitating data collection and analysis, Power Apps offers a versatile foundation for app development. Here are ten Power Apps examples that can revolutionise business operations.

Power Apps Examples

1. Inventory Management System: An app that simplifies tracking stock levels, orders, and deliveries, ensuring businesses can manage their inventory effectively without manual spreadsheets.

2. Employee Onboarding Portal: A streamlined platform for managing new hires, from document submission to training schedules, enhancing the onboarding experience for both employees and HR teams.

3. Customer Feedback App: An application that captures customer feedback in real-time, providing valuable insights to improve products and services.

4. Event Management Tool: An app designed to oversee event planning, ticket sales, and attendee engagement, all from a single, user-friendly interface.

5. Health and Safety Compliance Checker: A tool for businesses to monitor and ensure compliance with health and safety regulations, reducing the risk of workplace incidents.

6. Project Management Dashboard: A comprehensive application for tracking project timelines, budgets, and resources, facilitating better project oversight and collaboration.

7. Sales Lead Tracking System: An app that organises and manages sales leads, enabling sales teams to follow up effectively and close more deals.

8. Field Service Management App: A solution for coordinating field service operations, from scheduling visits to tracking technician performance, improving service delivery and customer satisfaction.

9. Expense Reporting Tool: An app that streamlines the submission, approval, and reimbursement of employee expenses, reducing paperwork and processing times.

10. Maintenance Request System: A platform that allows employees to submit maintenance requests and track their progress, ensuring facility issues are addressed promptly and efficiently.

These Power Apps examples demonstrate the platform’s flexibility and the range of challenges it can address in a business context.

 

How Emerge Digital Brings Your App from Concept to Reality

Emerge Digital’s approach to app development with Power Apps is comprehensive and client-focused. Here’s how we transform your ideas into reality:

• Understanding Business Needs: Every project begins with a deep dive into the specific challenges your business faces. This ensures the app we develop is not just a technological solution but a strategic tool that delivers real value.

• Scoping and Building: With a clear understanding of your requirements, we scope the project meticulously, designing and building an app that aligns perfectly with your business objectives. Our expertise in Power Apps allows us to tailor every aspect of the app to fit your needs precisely.

• Testing and Implementation: Rigorous testing is a cornerstone of our process, ensuring the app is not only functional but also user-friendly. Following successful testing, we manage a smooth implementation, integrating the app into your business operations seamlessly.

• Training and Support: To maximise the impact of your new app, we provide comprehensive training for your team, ensuring they are confident in using the app effectively. Our support extends beyond the launch, with ongoing assistance to adapt the app as your business evolves.

 

Through this detailed process, Emerge Digital empowers businesses to harness the potential of Power Apps, turning challenges into opportunities with innovative, custom-built applications.

 

Why Choose Emerge Digital for Your Power Apps Development?

Selecting the right partner for Power Apps development is crucial to the success of your digital transformation journey. Here are compelling reasons why Emerge Digital stands out as the ideal choice:

• Expertise in Translating Business Needs into Functional Apps: Our team at Emerge Digital excels in understanding your unique business challenges and crafting apps that provide tangible solutions. With our depth of experience, we ensure that every app we develop aligns perfectly with your strategic objectives, delivering not just a tool but a competitive advantage.

•  Streamlined Process That Reduces Development Time and Costs: We pride ourselves on our efficient development process, designed to get your app from concept to deployment swiftly. This approach not only accelerates the time to market but also optimises resources, significantly reducing development costs without compromising on quality.

•  Continuous Support and Training to Ensure Long-term Success: Our commitment to your success extends beyond the launch of your app. We provide ongoing support and comprehensive training, ensuring your team can leverage the full potential of the app. As your business evolves, we’re here to ensure your Power App evolves with you, maintaining its relevance and effectiveness.

 

Getting Started with Your Power App

Embarking on your app development journey can be an empowering experience, offering a blend of creativity and strategic thinking. Here’s a streamlined approach to kickstart your journey with Power Apps, emphasising a hands-on exploration before seeking expert assistance from Emerge Digital:

1. Dive into Power Apps: Begin by exploring Power Apps on your own. Microsoft has created an extensive range of resources, tutorials, guides, and example Power Apps that make it easy for beginners to start experimenting with the platform. This step allows you to familiarise yourself with the capabilities of Power Apps, understand its interface, and begin conceptualising how it can solve your business challenges.

2. Experiment and Conceptualise: Use the tools and resources available to create simple apps that address specific needs within your business. This hands-on experimentation is crucial for gaining insights into what Power Apps can achieve and how its features can be tailored to meet your requirements. It’s also an excellent opportunity to identify the limits of your in-house capabilities and where professional guidance could enhance your project.

3. Reflect on Your Experience: After spending some time with Power Apps, assess your experience. Consider the challenges you faced, the solutions you could create, and the potential impact on your business operations. This reflection will help you pinpoint areas where Emerge Digital’s expertise can add value, ensuring your app not only meets but exceeds your business objectives.

4. Reach Out to Emerge Digital: Once you’ve explored Power Apps and have a clearer understanding of your needs and aspirations, it’s time to elevate your project. Contact Emerge Digital to discuss your experience, the ideas you’ve conceptualised, and the challenges you’ve encountered. We’ll arrange an initial consultation to explore how we can collaborate to refine your vision, enhance your app’s functionality, and ensure it seamlessly integrates into your business processes.

5. Embark on Your Development Journey: With Emerge Digital, you’re not just building an app; you’re crafting a bespoke solution that’s meticulously aligned with your business strategy. Our comprehensive approach ensures your Power App is developed, tested, and implemented with precision, supported by continuous training and assistance to maximise its impact on your business.

Taking the first steps with Power Apps on your own is a valuable process that sets the foundation for a successful development project. When you’re ready to take your app to the next level, Emerge Digital is here to provide the expertise, support, and vision needed to transform your business processes. Reach out to us, and let’s create something exceptional together.

 

Conclusion

Choosing Power Apps for business process automation and innovation represents a strategic investment in your company’s future. With its no-code platform, Power Apps opens up a realm of possibilities, enabling you to respond swiftly to market changes, streamline operations, and enhance customer engagement. Partnering with Emerge Digital amplifies these benefits, offering expertise, efficiency, and unwavering support throughout your digital transformation journey.

As you consider the path forward, remember that the value of Power Apps (seen through some of the Power Apps examples that are available) extends beyond the technology itself. It’s about empowering your team, driving innovation, and securing a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving business landscape. Emerge Digital is here to guide you every step of the way, ensuring your Power Apps project is not just a success but a catalyst for sustained growth and innovation. Reach out to us today, and let’s explore how we can transform your business together with Power Apps.

 

If you’d like to speak to a member of our team to discuss your app requirements and see how we can help, get in touch here or email hello@emerge.digital.

 

About Emerge Digital

Emerge Digital is a technology and digital innovation business and Managed Services Provider (MSP) which provides solutions to SMEs that drive efficiency, competitiveness, and profit. Using comprehensive solutions, including outsourced IT support, cyber security, cloud infrastructure, and innovative technologies like process automation, data visualisation and AI – Emerge Digital enables businesses to invest in technology that supports them in achieving their goals.

Join Tom Henson, Managing Director of Emerge Digital, for an engaging and enlightening 30-minute webinar on harnessing the power of AI and automation to transform your purchase invoice process. Discover how these advanced technologies can convert routine financial tasks into dynamic, high-efficiency operations.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

1. Revolutionising Invoice Management: Learn how AI can replace traditional, cumbersome invoice processing with a streamlined, intelligent approach.
2. Enhancing Cash Flow Optimisation: Explore AI methodologies that enable smarter, more efficient cash management strategies.
3. Accelerating Financial Approvals: Experience how AI can speed up financial decision-making processes, making them more efficient and less time-consuming.

This webinar is not just about adopting new technology; it’s about gaining a strategic edge in financial management. With Emerge Digital’s expertise, you’ll discover how AI and automation are not just tools for efficiency, but catalysts for transforming your business’s financial operations. Don’t miss this opportunity to take a significant step towards future-proofing your financial processes.

Register

To access this invaluable resource, simply fill out the form below.

The Business Case for Low-Code

Cost-Efficiency

When we talk about investing in technology, the conversation often zeroes in on costs. It’s not a trivial matter; balancing the financial books is crucial for any SME. Low code development inherently challenges the costly status quo of traditional software development. According to a Forrester report, Microsoft’s low-code Power Platform can reduce development costs by 24%. In real terms, this means freeing up capital that can be reallocated to other essential business operations.

Speed to Market

Time, they say, is money, but in the fast-moving world of digital business, time is also opportunity. Utilising low-code solutions doesn’t just save you pennies; it saves you time. A study by OutSystems reveals that low code development can speed up application delivery of web applications, with developers 11% more likely to deliver in 4 months or less. In an era where market trends pivot at breakneck speeds, this rapid deployment is not just a convenience; it’s a strategic advantage.

Scalability

Scaling a business isn’t merely about adding resources; it’s about doing so intelligently. Here’s where low code development shines. The modular nature of low-code platforms makes it easier to adapt to growing business needs without having to reinvent the wheel each time. In a guest blog post on SAP’s website, IDC outline that low-code tools make it simpler to change an application based on the requirements of a business.

We understand the plethora of challenges and opportunities that SMEs face in today’s digital age. Through low-code solutions, we are not just offering a service; we’re offering a tailored path for your business to be more agile, efficient, and ready for whatever the future holds.

The Role of Managed Service Providers (MSPs)

Expertise

At Emerge Digital, our mastery of low-code platforms isn’t something that’s merely ‘nice-to-have’—it’s an indispensable asset. We understand the intricacies involved in implementing low-code solutions, tailoring them to suit specific business needs. An MSP brings this level of surgical precision to low code development, ensuring that the finished product isn’t just functional but optimised for peak performance.

Security

The question of cyber security is no longer an ‘if’ but a ‘when’. Cyber threats are a genuine concern for businesses, especially SMEs, who often lack the resources for a dedicated in-house security team. That’s where MSPs step in, weaving a tapestry of cyber security measures around low-code development. Our meticulous approach ensures that your low-code environment is as secure as a fortified castle, mitigating risks and vulnerabilities.

Ongoing Support

The real magic of working with an MSP like Emerge Digital lies in the continued service you receive. We aren’t in the business of fire-and-forget. Our ongoing support encompasses regular updates, performance reviews, and proactive measures to ensure your low-code solutions continue to serve your business goals.

Real-world Applications – A Case Study

Introduction

It’s one thing to talk about the theoretical advantages of low-code; it’s another to see it in action. Our engagement with Cazoo Wholesale offers a tangible illustration of how targeted automation can dramatically improve efficiency while reducing costs.

The Client and Challenge

With over three decades of experience in remarketing and managing vehicles, Cazoo Wholesale handles a voluminous flow of vehicles each week. The manual process of filing and retrieving V5c vehicle log book documents was not just laborious but also fraught with human error. Our mission was to streamline this process, helping the team to operate more efficiently and eliminate unnecessary costs.

Our Solution

We harnessed the capabilities of Power Automate, part of the low-code Microsoft Power Platform, to automate the cumbersome task of managing V5c documents. The manual labour of scanning and emailing these crucial files was replaced by an automated system that not only scanned the documents but also used artificial intelligence to extract and store key data. This process then relocated the files to an easily accessible SharePoint library.

The Outcome

The benefits of this automation were immediate and substantial. Team members now enjoy instant access to data regardless of their location, obviating the need to physically search through a cabinet or rely on onsite colleagues. Moreover, by limiting human interaction with these documents, we have drastically reduced the likelihood of misplaced or lost files.

Remarkably, the setup required just one day, and the ongoing cost of maintaining this automated solution is a mere £30.20 a month for 5000 credits.

Through this real-world application, we’re not just stating what low code solutions can achieve; we’re demonstrating it. It’s a vivid example that encapsulates our belief that strategic application of technology isn’t an expense but an investment—one that pays tangible dividends.

How Does Low Code Evolve with Your Business?

Adaptability

Change is the only constant in business. As your company grows, so too will your technological requirements. Herein lies another forte of low-code development: its remarkable adaptability. Its modular structure allows for easy customisations and alterations, enabling your software to evolve in tandem with your business goals.

Future-Proofing

In a digital age defined by rapid transformations, the concept of ‘future-proofing’ can almost seem like a pipe dream. But low-code solutions are inherently geared for longevity. Their upgradable structure means that as the tech landscape evolves, your low-code applications can adapt swiftly, ensuring you’re not left behind wrestling with obsolescence.

When you partner with us, what you’re investing in isn’t just a technological solution but a dynamic strategy for sustainable growth. The future is unknown but planning for it shouldn’t be a gamble; it should be a calculated strategy, and that’s precisely what we offer with our low-code solutions.

 

Why Emerge Digital Is Your Ideal Low Code Partner

Tailored Solutions

Your business is unique, and your technology should be too. We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. At Emerge Digital, we put in the legwork to understand your business, dissect its challenges, and envisage its growth trajectory. This enables us to provide low code solutions that are precisely tailored to meet your distinct requirements and aspirations.

Experience

There’s no substitute for experience, and we have it in spades. Our proven track record spans not only low code development but also a comprehensive suite of services—from cyber security to data visualisation. When you partner with us, you’re gaining the benefit of years of expertise, channelled into creating solutions that fit your business like a glove.

Conclusion

The digital realm is constantly evolving, making the demands on SMEs all the more challenging. However, low code development stands out as a flexible, cost-effective, and secure solution to meet these challenges head-on. From saving costs and speeding time-to-market to offering scalability and robust security measures, low code solutions represent a potent tool for SMEs looking to thrive in today’s business landscape.

Your choice of partner in this journey is critical. At Emerge Digital, we offer more than just technical expertise. We bring a nuanced understanding of your business needs to the table, crafting solutions that propel you toward your objectives without compromise.

The way forward is clear: it’s time for SMEs to consider how low code can serve their long-term objectives. We invite you to leverage our expertise and services in making that transformative shift. Let’s build your future, today.