AI Starter Support & Strategy

It's a comprehensive support package designed specifically for Irish SMEs across Ireland—from Dublin to Cork and Galway—to help you understand, plan, and begin using Artificial Intelligence in your business. We work with you to identify the best AI opportunities in your operations, then deliver a straightforward roadmap. You'll receive hands-on training and, if desired, a small-scale pilot (Proof-of-Concept) so you can see real results before committing further resources.

Absolutely. Whether you're a family-run retailer on Grafton Street in Dublin or a consulting firm in Limerick, this service is designed for non-tech businesses in Ireland. We leverage user-friendly AI tools to enhance everyday processes—marketing in Cork, sales in Waterford, customer service in Galway—while we handle the technical details.

Yes—especially if you're a sole trader in Kilkenny or a micro-scale enterprise in Wexford. AI tools can serve as a virtual assistant, performing tasks that might otherwise require hiring staff. For example, an AI chatbot can answer customer queries 24/7, and content-generation AI can draft marketing emails or social media posts, freeing you to focus on your core craft.

We aim to make our services accessible to Irish businesses of all sizes. Start with a free 30-minute consultation to ensure mutual fit. Our initial fixed-price 'AI Readiness Assessment & Opportunity Analysis' workshop delivers a clear ROI case and a tailored roadmap. We also advise on Enterprise Ireland and Local Enterprise Office (LEO) grants to help offset costs.

The process is designed for speed. The half-day Readiness Workshop can take place in Dublin, Cork, or remotely across Ireland. Your custom AI Strategy & Roadmap is delivered within 1–2 weeks. Pilot projects or training rollouts vary by scope, but we focus on delivering quick wins—often within the first month.

Quick wins vary by sector:

• Retail & E-commerce (Dublin, Cork): Auto-generate drafts of product descriptions, saving hours of writing time.
• Professional Services (Galway, Limerick): Transcribe and summarise client meetings or analyse lengthy reports in minutes.
• Trades & Construction (Waterford, Kilkenny):Deploy an AI chatbot for booking enquiries after hours, capturing every lead.
• Marketing & Social Media (nationwide Ireland): Instantly generate blog post outlines, social posts, or email campaigns.

In Irish businesses, AI is best viewed as a tool that augments your team, not replaces it. By automating repetitive tasks—data entry, basic customer queries—it frees your staff in Cork, Dublin, or Belfast to focus on higher-value activities: creativity, strategy, and relationship building. Our training emphasises collaboration between AI and people, addressing concerns head-on and demonstrating enhanced job satisfaction.

No technical background? No problem. Our Foundational Team Training sessions—offered in Dublin, Galway, or online—cover essential skills like prompt engineering and role-specific AI applications. We use real-world examples relevant to Irish business contexts, ensuring your team gains confidence quickly.

Yes. Generative AI models like ChatGPT, which are pre-trained on vast public datasets, don't require your internal data for many tasks—writing content, summarising text, generating ideas. We help you choose the right AI approach for your data situation, whether in Cork or any part of Ireland.

Data privacy and GDPR are paramount. We recommend enterprise-grade platforms (e.g., Microsoft Azure OpenAI) with robust security and compliance features. We provide an AI Usage Policy tailored for Irish SMEs and train your team on best practices to ensure customer data—whether in Dublin or Limerick—is handled correctly.

The EU AI Act categorises AI systems by risk (Minimal to Unacceptable). Most SME applications will fall under 'Minimal' or 'Limited' risk, with straightforward transparency obligations. As part of our service, we assess your intended AI use cases and ensure full compliance, turning regulation into a trust-building opportunity for your business in Ireland.

AI can sometimes produce inaccurate outputs—"hallucinations." We mitigate this with a human-in-the-loop process: AI generates a first draft, then a qualified team member reviews and approves all critical outputs. Our training also covers prompt engineering techniques that improve accuracy and accountability.

Yes. Key supports for Irish businesses include:

• Enterprise Ireland Innovation Vouchers (up to €5,000) for AI feasibility and strategy.
• Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Digitalisation Grants targeted at small and micro-businesses across Ireland.
• Digital Transition Fund for businesses at all stages of their digital journey.

We guide you through selecting and applying for the best grants to maximise your investment.

The primary risk is falling behind in a growing Productivity Chasm. As competitors in Dublin, Cork, and beyond leverage AI for efficiency and responsiveness, businesses that delay AI adoption risk higher costs, lost market share, and reduced competitiveness. Aligning with Ireland's national "AI – Here for Good" strategy is key to future-proofing your operation.

Our 'AI Starter Support & Strategy' service is just the beginning. Your roadmap will outline "Next" and "Later" phases, and we're available for ongoing support—advanced training, full-scale implementation projects, and continuous AI optimisation—as your business grows in AI maturity.