The Rise of AI Agents and What it Means for SMEs

SMEs need to find ways to enhance customer experience, reduce operational complexities and do more with less to compete in today’s digital economy. AI agents are rapidly emerging as powerful solutions to meet these needs, allowing businesses to scale and grow in ways that weren't possible before. While AI-driven solutions are collectively expected to contribute over US$1 trillion to global SME revenue by 2030, AI agents are poised to play a crucial role in this growth by simplifying complex processes and unlocking new possibilities for innovation.

So what exactly are AI Agents?  

AI agents are a special breed of AI designed to autonomously perform tasks, and learn from interacting with their environment to make decisions and achieve specific goals. They act as round-the-clock domain experts that handle goal-oriented tasks from start to finish while continuously refining their processes. Unlike earlier AI tools which warranted a steep learning curve and much heavy lifting to operate, these agents require minimal human intervention.

Removing Barriers: How Agents Make AI Accessible to SMEs 

Historically, adopting advanced technologies that could drive real business success required significant expertise, time, and investment that were typically out of reach for many SMEs. Case in point: according to Deloitte, only 27 percent of SMEs have implemented an AI strategy compared to 82 percent of large enterprises. However, today’s AI agents can break down these barriers, offering SMEs access to enterprise-grade solutions that require little effort to set up and operate. This is a game-changer that allows SMEs to adopt powerful AI solutions without the need for large investments or a dedicated data science team. The agents themselves are trained to adapt and improve autonomously. By learning from their environment they free businesses to focus on strategy and growth.

Here’s how AI agents can level the playing field for  e-commerce SMEs:

1. Inventory Management and Demand Forecasting
AI agents can help SMEs avoid costly stock outs or overstocking by analysing purchasing trends, sales patterns, and external market data to forecast inventory needs accurately. According to McKinsey, businesses that use AI for inventory management experience a 20-30 percent reduction in inventory costs. This level of precision is now within reach for smaller businesses through AI-driven demand forecasting. 

2.Real-Time Pricing and Market Adaptation
AI-driven dynamic pricing allows businesses to adapt prices in response to real-time data on competitor pricing, demand trends, and seasonalities. According to BCG, this flexibility helps businesses remain competitive while increasing sales by 10-15 percent. 

3. Dynamic Content and SEO Optimisation
AI agents can autonomously generate and adapt content in real time to align with user signals and market trends, while enhancing search engine visibility and overall performance. This is exactly what solutions like qeen.ai’s Dynamic Content agents achieve, leading to a step change in the product listings’ visibility and  bringing significant uplifts in add-to-cart rates.

4. Automating Order Processing and Invoicing
Order processing and invoicing can be time-intensive for SMEs. AI agents reduce the manual workload, minimising errors and preventing delays that can negatively impact cashflow, which can be particularly detrimental for smaller businesses.

A New Era of Accessible AI for SMEs
AI agents are democratising access to advanced technological abilities which - until recently - were only accessible to large enterprises, providing SMEs with affordable, autonomous tools that can scale with their business. 

Looking ahead, AI agents are set to completely reimagine today’s e-commerce workflows and enable new ways of doing businesses. This is set to have a transformational effect on e-commerce by bringing the personal touch and attentiveness of in-store shopping to online experiences. This new e-commerce era promises a level of responsiveness and attention to detail that will blur the lines between people and technology.

The rise of AI agents unlocks a strategic opportunity for businesses toward an efficient, scalable operational model that is primed for growth and innovation. By taking on more and more operational tasks , these agents free up businesses to focus on what matters most: enhancing customer experience, growing revenue, reaching new markets, and building sustainable success in an AI-first world. 

About the Author:

Ahmad Khwileh is the Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of qeen.ai, where he drives the vision and execution of cutting-edge AI solutions that are transforming the e-commerce landscape. With over 15 years of expertise in data science, software development, and digital marketing, Ahmad plays a critical role in leading technical teams as the architect of cutting-edge AI-powered systems that push the boundaries of what’s possible in e-commerce.