The entrepreneur’s edge in an AI-Driven economy

BUSINESS NEWS - AI is no longer a futuristic concept reserved for tech giants. It is here, accessible, and is changing the way businesses of all sizes operate. Often spoken about in extremes, either as the ultimate productivity tool or as a looming threat to jobs, livelihoods, and even human creativity, entrepreneurs should perceive AI to be a threat but see it is an edge.

Those who learn to harness it will outpace competitors, reach customers more effectively, and run leaner, more profitable operations.

The fear that AI will replace jobs is understandable, but history shows that every major technological leap creates as many opportunities as it displaces. The real question for entrepreneurs is not whether AI is reshaping their industry but whether they are ahead of the curve.

AI can supercharge small businesses in ways that were previously unimaginable. Customer chatbots can provide 24/7 support at a fraction of the cost of a call centre. Predictive analytics can help entrepreneurs anticipate demand, optimise inventory, and reduce waste.

AI-powered marketing tools can create personalised campaigns that speak directly to customer needs, improving conversion rates. This takes away the conventional 360 responsibility of the entrepreneur being the jack of trades within the business in an efficient way.

Even in industries that may seem far removed from technology, AI is creating efficiencies.

In agriculture, AI-driven tools can help farmers monitor soil health and predict yields. In retail, AI can optimise pricing in real time to respond to shifting demand. In services, AI can automate repetitive admin, freeing entrepreneurs to focus on strategy and growth.

Crucially, AI is becoming more affordable and accessible. Cloud-based tools and low-code platforms mean entrepreneurs no longer need a team of data scientists to benefit from AI. What they do need is a willingness to experiment, a mindset of continuous learning, and a clear understanding of where AI can add the most value in their business.

This is why programmes like Nedbank Pitch & Polish by Raizcorp are so critical right now. Worth noting is that investors, funders and judges (of small business empowerment initiatives such as Pitch & Polish) are no longer just looking for passion, they are looking for innovation and scalability.

Entrepreneurs who can show how they are using AI to run leaner operations, serve customers more effectively, or unlock new revenue streams instantly stand out.

Pitch & Polish provides the perfect stage for entrepreneurs to showcase this kind of forward-thinking. By refining their business models and pitch narratives, participants can demonstrate not just what they do, but how they are future-proofing their businesses. In today’s competitive funding environment, being able to articulate your AI strategy could be the difference between staying small and securing the backing needed to scale.

AI is not a replacement for entrepreneurial vision, it is a force multiplier. Entrepreneurs who pair human creativity with machine intelligence will be able to do more with less, serve customers better, and scale faster. The edge will belong to those who embrace AI not as a buzzword, but as a practical tool for solving real problems.

The next wave of business success will not be defined by size, but by speed, intelligence, and adaptability. Entrepreneurs who lean into AI now will not just keep up with change, they will set the pace.

South Africa is at a pivotal moment in AI adoption. Various market studies continue to find that local businesses are rapidly exploring AI to cut costs, improve customer experience, and unlock new markets, but most of this adoption is concentrated among larger corporates. For small entrepreneurs, this gap represents a massive opportunity. By being early adopters of affordable, cloud-based AI tools, small businesses can demonstrate agility that big players often lack.

Imagine a township retailer using AI-powered inventory forecasting to reduce stockouts, or a small logistics company using route-optimisation algorithms to slash fuel costs.

These innovations not only solve real problems but also create scalable models that can attract investment, expand into new regions, and set the entrepreneur apart from competitors. In a market where incremental improvements are no longer enough, AI-driven innovation becomes the lever that turns small businesses into growth engines.

AI is not a replacement for entrepreneurial vision but a force multiplier. Entrepreneurs who pair human creativity with machine intelligence will be able to do more with less, serve customers better, and scale faster. The edge will belong to those who embrace AI not as a buzzword, but as a practical tool for solving real problems.

The next wave of business success will not be defined by size, but by speed, intelligence, and adaptability. Entrepreneurs who lean into AI now will not just keep up with change but will also set the pace.

Alan Shannon, Executive: Sales Strategy & Enablement, Nedbank