What training do professionals need to start using AI in their company? Six recommendations

SMEs need tangible examples: How can AI improve their business operations? Training courses must therefore draw on concrete practical examples that are relevant to the type of SME to which the training course is aimed. By showing how AI has been successfully applied in similar business environments, SME leaders can better imagine the potential benefits for their own businesses. Examples from large high-tech companies are therefore often not suitable for smaller Flemish SMEs.

• Do: an example of AI implementation in an ice cream cart for the food industry.
• Don't: fragment of automation at a mega company like Coca-Cola for the Flemish food industry.

Employees in SMEs are primarily interested in solving problems in their work, not in integrating the latest technology. And they very often work in Dutch . Therefore, the technical and often English jargon of most AI courses can be intimidating for non-technical SME leaders. Successful training courses explain AI concepts and terminology in understandable language. They avoid complex technical terms and limit the amount of English. This allows the courses to appeal to a broader audience and lower the barrier to AI adoption.

This difference is immediately apparent in course titles alone. These are two possible titles for the same course:

• Do: Save costs and time using smart decision systems
• Don't: Knowledge Base Paradigm and the IDP system

One of the most important considerations for SMEs when deciding whether to embrace AI is the financial implications. SMEs find it very difficult to gain insight into this. Enterprise-oriented training courses should therefore include educational modules that help calculate the costs and benefits of AI implementation. By providing insights into investment requirements and potential returns, training can help SMEs make informed decisions about their AI strategy.

• Do: a practice-oriented training on the concrete implementation of AI.
• Don't: a training course that shows all technical possibilities, but does not provide information about implementation.

Every SME is unique, with different AI adoption needs and challenges. It is therefore important that training courses are flexible and offer different learning paths tailored to the specific characteristics of the target group. By offering personalized training pathways, SMEs can acquire the knowledge and skills most relevant to their situation. So don't start from the content that may be the same for different target groups, but start from the target group.

• Do: training in many small modules, aimed at specific target groups
• Don't: organize the same training on AI in healthcare for pharmacists and nurses together

In addition, there is a need for more AI ambassadors in Flanders. These profiles have in-depth knowledge of both data & AI and business processes. By offering specific training for these professional profiles, more SMEs can appoint an AI ambassador to effectively install AI in their organization. Also, the competition for these profiles will become less cutthroat.

• Do: more training for AI ambassadors
• Don't: courses that approach either the IT side or management side of AI. We need people who can function as bridges between both departments.