Published in: Jul 2025

AI for SMEs: The Key to Gaining a Competitive Edge (Part 2)

Author Wise Agent

Published on: July 16, 2025

In part 1 of this 3-part series, we examined the different areas AI can help small businesses compete better. This article will look into the top 5 AI tools that SMEs can use to boost productivity and competitiveness. These AI tools offer free plans and can deliver big results with minimal investment.

ChatGPT

This tool works like a 24/7 virtual assistant that supports content creation, email writing, customer support automation, brainstorming, and problem-solving. You can use it to draft a social media post, summarise a meeting, write product descriptions, or brainstorm a campaign idea. It is a time-saving and easily accessible tool.

Mailchimp

Use this AI-powered tool to enhance the effectiveness of your email marketing. Mailchimp’s AI features help you automate campaigns, recommend subject lines, optimise send times, and segment audiences for higher engagement. You can gain insights into customer behaviour and improve open and click-through rates.

Canva

Captivating visuals are essential for effective marketing. You can use Canva to create stunning visuals with AI-enhanced design tools. It is applicable for social media graphics, presentations, posters, flyers, and brand visuals. It is easy to use with templates for every social media platform. It can also generate headlines, suggest layouts, and edit photos.

Zapier

Automation helps save time and improve productivity. Zapier is best used for workflow automation between apps such as Gmail, Google Sheets, Slack, Shopify, and HubSpot. AI-driven automation helps connect your tools and reduce manual tasks, no coding required. For example, you can create a “Zap” that adds every new email subscriber to your CRM or sends you a Slack alert when someone makes a purchase.

Notion AI

With Notion AI, you can speed up content creation, summarize documents, generate action items, and even translate content. It is like having a brainstorming partner built into your notes. Use it to create and manage Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), wikis, and to-do lists. This tool will help you to write faster and stay organised. It also supports collaboration with teams.

These AI tools can help SMEs save time, reduce costs, improve customer engagement, and enable more informed decision-making. You can test them out on the free plans and see if they are a good fit for your business. PLE Laundry Equipment Sdn. Bhd. offers AI-powered commercial laundry equipment for enhanced customer experience. Contact us at 016–262 2965 or 603–5633 6405 to check out our full range of machines today.