Air IT launches AI services to close SME decision gap

Air IT has launched a new suite of artificial intelligence services for small and medium-sized enterprises, aimed at what it describes as an AI decision gap among smaller businesses.

The Nottingham-based managed services provider has introduced AI Accelerator workshops, an Air Agent Marketplace, bespoke agent development and AI Managed Services. The aim is to move clients beyond basic use of tools such as Microsoft Copilot and towards defined projects tied to specific business problems.

The launch comes as smaller companies continue to test generative AI but often stop short of broad deployment. Research cited by Air IT found that 70% of small businesses are somewhat or very confident using generative AI, while 48% use it regularly. Separate UK government research referenced in the material found that only one in six firms have deliberately deployed at least one AI technology with a defined business purpose, while nearly 80% have neither a plan nor a strategy for adoption.

That has created an opening for IT service providers to reposition their role. Rather than focusing on software licences alone, firms in the sector are increasingly advising customers on governance, data preparation, security controls and use-case selection as businesses seek clearer returns on AI spending.

Internal testing

Air IT said its latest services draw on three years of AI and automation work inside its own business. It is now running millions of automated actions internally each month, saving around 2,000 to 2,500 hours a month, while automated self-service has risen 350% year on year.

That internal programme appears central to how the company is presenting its new offer. Air IT said it used its own operations as a testing ground before taking similar services to customers, an approach it calls "Customer Zero".

The AI Accelerator starts with senior leaders identifying an operational or commercial problem rather than a specific tool. Air IT then assesses opportunities and produces a roadmap setting out which initiatives should happen first and how success will be measured.

The marketplace is a portfolio of pre-built AI agents intended to address repeat business tasks. The company said these can be configured to fit a client's information, processes and governance requirements before being deployed within Microsoft environments. Where a business needs a more tailored system, Air IT said it will also build and manage custom agents.

Customer example

One early customer cited by Air IT is Colchester Global Investors, which completed an AI Accelerator engagement and is now moving ahead with an RFP and DDQ agent. The tool is intended to cut time spent on repetitive questionnaire responses and make approved information easier for teams to access.

"AI has the potential to be a major productivity driver for SMEs, but only if businesses can move from interest and experimentation to focused execution. Many organisations know AI matters, but they need help deciding where to start, what to prioritise and how to turn the opportunity into measurable business value. This launch is about giving customers the confidence and capability to invest in AI in a way that is structured, responsible and aligned to the outcomes they want to achieve," said Lee Johnson, Chief Technology Officer, Air IT.

The company's case rests on a familiar problem in the current AI market. Many businesses have trialled chatbots, assistants or document tools, but fewer have set formal priorities, assigned budgets or established controls around data use and oversight. That leaves a gap between interest in the technology and real deployment across departments.

For managed service providers, that gap could become a new source of consulting and implementation work. Air IT already supports more than 2,000 organisations from nine UK regional offices, and the new services suggest it sees AI planning and deployment as an extension of its wider managed IT, cloud, cyber security and Microsoft work.

Customer feedback provided further context on the process. "When we first started exploring AI, we wanted to move beyond the hype and understand where it could genuinely create value for the business. Air IT Group's AI Accelerator provided a structured framework to do exactly that. Rather than leading with solutions, they challenged our thinking, helped us identify the areas with potential for meaningful impact and turned what had been a broad strategic conversation into a focused set of priorities and practical next steps. We have much greater clarity on where we're investing our efforts and why," said Denton.

Barney Taylor, Chief Executive Officer, Air IT, said the company believes the market is shifting from curiosity to implementation. "SMEs are under pressure to act on AI, but speed alone does not lead to better decisions. Too often, businesses start with the technology before defining the problem, the value they expect to create, or how success will be measured. The next phase of AI adoption will be defined by execution. SMEs need solutions that are practical, secure and ready to use, but also focused on the work that will make the biggest difference to their business. The value is not in adopting AI for its own sake, but in applying it where it can improve decisions, remove friction and create measurable progress. That is the gap we want to close. We want to give SMEs a clearer route into AI, one that helps them move with pace, focus and control," said Taylor.