[Webinar Recap] AI-Powered Growth Tips Every SME Should Know

Artificial Intelligence has come a long way—and for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), it’s more than just a trend. This was emphasised during the Vodien webinar on 13 June 2025, “AI adoption is no longer optional. It’s an urgent priority for businesses.” 

In this post, we’ll break down the key takeaways discussed from the session, which focused on how SMEs in Singapore — and beyond — can use AI to accelerate growth, boost efficiency, and build a stronger online presence. All this, without hiring large teams or breaking your wallet.  

Why AI Matters for SMEs Right Now? 

For a quick trivia, did you know that SMEs make up 99% of all businesses in Singapore and employ 70% of the workforce? And yet, AI adoption remains relatively low. “Only 4.2% of the SMEs had adopted AI,” noted webinar host Sakshi, which highlighted a major gap.  

However, this is quickly changing. Sakshi cited a bold projection: “66% of the businesses will adopt AI by the end of 2025.” But, why the sudden shift? Because businesses are currently facing tougher conditions: rising costs, limited manpower, and tighter margins. This is where AI enters the picture, and offers real, practical solutions. 

Real Challenges, Real Solutions 

Bryan Ho, the keynote speaker of the webinar and the founder of Smmile Digital, broke down the top challenges that SMEs face today and further explained how AI can directly help them: 

As Bryan explained during the webinar:  

“AI helps businesses run leaner and more efficient... It provides the data and insights needed to make quick decisions and weather the storm.” 

He also added that AI isn’t just for survival—it’s a competitive edge that allows smaller businesses to operate smarter and faster than before. 

Building an Online Presence Fast 

Now, let’s move on to building your website and how AI simplifies the process. You see, your website is your storefront. It’s how people discover your business, learn about your services, and decide to trust you. As Bryan quoted, “Without a website, you are essentially invisible.” 

Before, creating a website was purely manual, time-consuming, and often technically demanding. However, with AI’s emergence, AI tools now make website creation fast and affordable even for beginners.  

During the webinar, Bryan conducted a demo on how to build a full website in under 10 minutes using a few key tools: 

ChatGPT 

During the demo, Bryan used ChatGPT to plan and create your website’s structure and content. For example, Bryan input:  

“I’m starting an interior business in Singapore. My company name is Lucky Interiors... help me plan my website.” 

The result? A ready-to-use layout with tailored content sections. 

Bolt 

After creating your site’s structure and content, it’s time to generate one. Bryan then used Bolt to generate a live website based on the ChatGPT plan. After uploading the site to Vodien’s hosting via cPanel, the site was live within minutes.  

“This was entirely created using Bolt in 5 to 10 minutes—and by just copying the prompts.” 

Creating a Brand with AI 

Beyond websites, AI tools help SMEs design logos, marketing visuals, and social media graphics without hiring designers. 

Ideogram 

Bryan recommended Ideogram for creating brand visuals. It’s easy to use and offers: 

• Free plans with 10 credits per week 
• Logo and poster creation 
• Quick output of ad banners and social posts 

He even demonstrated how to generate promotional banners for Facebook and WhatsApp using prompts from ChatGPT. 

“With this, you can just use WhatsApp and send to friends, or you can even use this on ads if you think it is relevant.” 

Marketing Made Easy with AI 

Another part of your business where AI can greatly help is marketing. Creating marketing strategies can be time-consuming, but not with AI.  

With the help of ChatGPT and Ideogram, you can easily: 

• Create complete marketing strategies 
• Identify the target audience 
• Write ad copy for Facebook and Google Ads 
• Generate matching visuals 

“You don’t have to spend two years doing a marketing diploma. AI can help you do it in 2 minutes.” 

Bryan also added that these tools act like your “internal marketing department,” minus the overhead.  

Translating and Editing Product Images 

Now, for businesses sourcing products from overseas, translating and editing product images used to be time-consuming. But with AI? Not any more.  

OpenCut 

Another tool that Bryan demoed during the webinar was OpenCut. According to him, OpenCut can: 

• Translate image text (e.g., Chinese to English) 
• Edit or swap product models 
• Layer and customise visual content 

“It’s not Mission Impossible—AI actually removes all the Chinese text and adds in correct English texts.” 

The Bigger Picture: AI as an Amplifier 

Now, most people are concerned about AI’s emergence. In general, employees have a complex mix of hope, anxiety, and a desire for clear guidance on how to use AI. However, AI isn’t here to replace us—it’s here to help.  

As Bryan wrapped the webinar, he gave the viewers a key reminder: 

“AI acts as an amplifier, not a replacement. Your creativity, strategic thinking, and human connection remain important.” 

By offloading some routine tasks to AI, SME teams can focus on high-value work like business development, operations, and customer relationships. 

“With AI, you can scale your business without a linear increase in headcount.” 

From Theory to Application: How Vodien Empowers AI Adoption 

Building on Bryan’s powerful session, the webinar then transitioned to Vaibhav Srivastava, Head of Brand Marketing at Vodien and Senior Director at Newfold Digital. Vaibhav expanded the discussion from individual tools to Vodien’s broader ecosystem of AI-powered solutions designed specifically for SMEs.  

“We’re not just talking about AI. We’re building it into our products,” Vaibhav shared. 

From AI-powered website builders to smarter domain search and predictive server monitoring, Vodien is embedding intelligence directly into its hosting and website tools to help businesses create, launch, and grow online faster and smarter. 

Final Advice for SMEs 

To wrap things up, both keynote speakers offered encouraging advice for businesses at any stage of their AI journey: 

• Start small: Use free or low-cost tools first, then upgrade if they work well. 
• Focus on ROI: Compare tool costs against the time and manpower saved. 
• Educate your team: Help employees see AI as a helper, not a threat. 
• Secure your identity early: “Even if the .com is taken, there are hundreds of TLDs you can use—like .sg, .net, or .store. They work just as well.” Vaibhav advised. 

Embrace AI Now to Future-Proof Your Business 

One thing became evident from the webinar: AI is no longer limited to large enterprises. SMEs may and ought to use technology right now to create websites, carry out advertising campaigns, and optimise processes. The tools are strong, reasonably priced, and easily accessible. 

“You can expand your reach and capabilities without a linear increase in headcount,” Bryan concluded. 

If you’re ready to future-proof your business, AI is the smartest step forward. 

Audience Q&A – Notable Questions 

Are AI-generated images royalty-free? 

The platform determines this. Bryan Ho claims that websites such as Ideogram make it clear in their frequently asked questions that the generated photos are royalty-free and suitable for commercial usage. He does, however, advise users to refrain from producing anything that imitates real people, logos, or characters protected by copyright. 

“If you generate something that is original, it should be fine for commercial use,” Bryan clarified. 

What is the best digital foundation for a startup? 

Both speakers agreed: Start with a website. It’s your always-on digital storefront and the first step to establishing credibility online. 

“Without a website, you are essentially invisible,” said Bryan.
He also compared a website to the modern-day name card—something every business should have, regardless of size. 

Vaibhav added that securing your domain name early is just as important, even if it’s not a .com. There are many relevant and credible alternatives like .sg, .net, or .store. 

How to balance AI investment with cost? 

Start small and scale smart. Bryan recommends beginning with free or low-cost AI tools like ChatGPT and Ideogram. 

“It’s either you spend time doing it yourself, hire someone, or use AI to get it done faster and more affordably,” he explained. 

Vaibhav emphasised evaluating AI tools through a cost-vs-gain lens. While a tool might seem expensive at first (e.g. $100/month), the value it offers—often equivalent to hiring another team member—can far outweigh the cost. 

Tips to reduce AI resistance in teams 

AI adoption can feel intimidating, especially for employees who fear being replaced. Bryan suggested a step-by-step, top-down approach: 

• Start by learning the tools yourself.
• Introduce consultants or trainers to demonstrate how AI helps.
• Emphasise that AI is there to reduce tedious tasks, not jobs. 

“Don’t just throw a tool at your team—guide them through it,” Bryan advised.
With proper guidance and clear communication, teams are more likely to embrace the change rather than resist it.