AI adoption grows among Irish SMEs, but better data foundations are needed to turn AI into business value

Data management has become crucial to business strategy and growth in recent years. For SMEs, data management is no longer just an IT function. It is the foundation for trusted insights, resilient operations and scalable AI outcomes. As AI adoption accelerates, businesses need data that is high quality, well governed, accessible, and ready to use across the organisation.

For Small and Medium sized businesses (SMEs) which make up the vast majority of businesses across Ireland, establishing the right data foundations is crucial to fully harness the potential of AI powered innovation and enhance competitiveness.

Data management helps businesses build a stronger foundation for AI by connecting data, improving control, and making it easier to turn information into outcomes.

As industry leaders across Ireland prepare to come together at this year’s Dell Technologies Forum in Dublin on September 15th, one of the key conversations for Irish businesses will be around how organisations can transform their data into meaningful business outcomes.

It is a strategic conversation that needs to take place at the top of organisations. By moving past common misconceptions and taking practical steps to build a trusted data foundation, SMEs can reduce complexity, unlock more value from their data and scale AI with confidence.

“It’s too expensive”

The use of analytics in SMEs allows for improved operational efficiency in more than 60% of cases and significant cost reduction.

Generally, in SMEs, budgets are tight and each investment that is made must show results in the short term, and yes, modernising data management costs money, but the cost of relying on outdated processes, disconnected systems and limited visibility can often be far greater.

Nowadays we see that many medium-sized companies lose margin every day without seeing it. Excess inventory missed sales opportunities, inefficient processes, inaccurate forecasting, and poorly targeted customer activity can all be symptoms of a wider data management challenge.

For Irish SMEs, flexibility is particularly valuable. Businesses are increasingly looking for technology investments that can deliver measurable returns without requiring large upfront commitments or complex transformation programmes. Modern infrastructure allows organisations to start small, scale as demand grows and support hybrid environments that combine on-premises systems with cloud services.

These types of outcomes don’t require complex projects or disproportionate investments, but rather the decision to start seeing existing data as an operational asset.

“We have to hire a whole data team”

Another common misconception is that businesses need a large team of specialists before they can begin their data management journey.

In the case of SMEs, where resources are usually limited, there is no budget for specific profiles in each area. However, this should not prevent businesses of any sizes from progressing their digital transformation journey.

Across Ireland, many SMEs are choosing to work with trusted technology partners with AI, data expertise and skills to access solutions without the need to build large internal data teams. This approach allows SMEs to address strategic technology priorities while keeping internal resources focused on core business objectives.

This is also delivered by Dell Technologies’ channel ecosystem where we partner with SMEs and understand their day-to-day challenges. The team then delivers flexible, practical solutions that fit their organisation’s growth and budget.

“It’s complex”

Today modern data platforms have evolved significantly and are built around simplicity and practicality. These modern platforms are designed to eliminate friction, making information management easier, smarter, and more flexible, allowing SMEs to start with focused projects which translate into both operational savings and sustainability and expand it as the business grows.

Research shows that 85% of small businesses are moving towards flexible, disaggregated infrastructure and 66% are increasing investments in data management to meet opportunities and demand.

In addition, advanced automation and remote management now make systems easy to control from one branch office as well as ten, and enables on-premise connection to public or private cloud, scaling securely as needs evolve.

“We have to change the culture”

In conversations with customers, another barrier that often comes up is that “you have to change the culture of the company” before implementing efficient data management. In reality, its often opposite, change begins the moment business decides to use available data to inform decisions. As teams begin to see tangible improvements in day-to-day operations, confidence grows and the culture naturally evolves alongside it.

Businesses don’t need every employee to be a data expert. It’s about identifying a business challenge that needs clarity, collecting the data you have, and then using it to start a conversation with your team for everyday decision-making and simplify everyday tasks.

Over time, when employees see that data helps solve real problems, and improve efficiency the adoption within the business develops organically.

Data management is always tailor-made

There’s no one size that fits all approach when it comes to data management but companies, regardless of size, can take significant steps toward strategies to grow. The right strategy is to align data management with company’s objectives, business goals, existing technology environment, available resources all while keeping in mind the future growth plans.

A data-informed mindset empowers everyone, from the shop floor to management, to contribute to better outcomes.

Irish SMEs have an opportunity to rethink how they use data as a strategic advantage for their business growth. As AI becomes more accessible and customers expect faster, more personalised experiences, businesses that invest in trusted data foundations will be better positioned to compete, innovate and grow.

These themes will be central to the conversations at 2026 Dell Technologies Forum at The Convention Centre in Dublin on September 15th where business and IT leaders and industry experts will explore how Irish organisations can unlock greater value from their data and prepare for the next wave of AI innovation.

For more information and to register for the event, click here.

Guest post by Fiona Devane, Regional Sales Manager, SMB North at Dell Technologies