Smarter Business with Artificial Intelligence: Hands-On Tools for Small and Medium Enterprises
About This Course
In a world where business runs on data, many Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) hesitate to adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI) due to concerns about privacy, cost, and limited technical expertise. Yet AI can significantly streamline everyday tasks, from processing invoices and contracts to summarising emails and extracting key business insights.
This beginner-friendly AI course for SMEs empowers participants with practical, privacy-preserving AI tools for real world business use. Instead of relying on external platforms, participants will learn how to deploy local Large Language Models (LLMs) and on-premise AI solutions to process documents securely within their own IT environment.
Through real case studies and hands-on lessons, participants will learn basic Python for document processing, apply Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques, such as text summarisation and information extraction, and create low-code workflows using Power Automate Desktop. Practical SME scenarios include analysing supplier invoices, interpreting contract terms, and automating document-heavy processes across finance, operations, and compliance.
Key topics include local LLM deployment, privacy-preserving AI workflows, information extraction, text summarisation, and named entity recognition (NER).
These concepts are applied through practical SME scenarios such as analysing supplier invoices, summarising client communications, and interpreting contract terms using AI-enhanced workflows.
What You'll Learn
- Recognise practical opportunities and realistic limitations of using ArtificiaI Intelligence (AI) within SME operations.
- Understand how local AI can automate document intensive processes across finance, operations, legal, compliance, and more.
- Set up and deploy local large language models (LLMs) to automate routine document‑processing tasks securely.
- Apply AI in a privacy-preserving way while maintaining compliance and data control.
- Develop simple Python scripts to extract and organise structured data from common business documents.
- Build low‑code automation workflows using Power Automate Desktop to streamline business processes.
- Integrate Python, LLMs, and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) tools to design an end‑to‑end intelligent automation solution for a real‑world SME use case.
- Gain the skills to confidently deploy LLMs within their organisation, ensuring privacy, compliance, and full control of business information.
Entry Requirements
There are no formal prerequisites for enrolment in this programme. As this programme is conducted in English, participants should be proficient in reading, writing, and communicating in English.