Grateful for the chance to share the stage at the AIM ASEAN business training by Project Asia Data, on a panel discussion led by Paddy Tan, Founder of BlackStorm Group, moderated by Michele Cheng. 🙌
The topic: “From Smart Operations to Scalable Business Growth” hits close to home for anyone running an SME.
My key takeaway that I shared with the room: before AI can help you, your business needs data. Digitising and capturing your daily transactions and operations isn’t a “nice to have” — it’s the precursor to everything else. Once that data exists, AI can start doing real work for you: sharper demand forecasting, smarter workflow optimisation, and ultimately what many now call “smart operations.”
A few other lessons from the session that stuck with me:
🔹 Paddy Tan shared a simple but powerful strategy — instead of only investing in your best performers (Team A), use AI tools to lift your Team B to perform closer to Team A’s level. That’s where the real operational gains hide.
🔹 MarÃa del Mar Magaña shared how AI is helping cross-border companies in Mexico cut through red tape and simplify export operations — a great reminder that AI’s value isn’t just efficiency, it’s unlocking access.
🔹 Alan Cheng shared how companies in Taiwan are using RFID for precision tracking — a great example of pairing the right hardware with the right data strategy to get results.
It was a privilege to exchange ideas with such a sharp panel and an even sharper room of business leaders. Conversations like these are a great reminder that AI adoption for SMEs doesn’t have to be complicated — it starts with getting your data house in order, and building from there.
Thank you to Project Asia Data and BlackStorm Group for putting together such a valuable session, and to my fellow panelists for the insights. Looking forward to more of these conversations.
#AIforBusiness #SmartOperations #AIMASEAN #SME #DigitalTransformation #ProjectAsiaData
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