AI Strategy for Small and Mid-Sized Businesses

Practical guidance to assess, design, and deploy AI responsibly—focused on real business outcomes, not hype.

AI Strategy Built for Real Businesses — Not Experiments

Artificial intelligence is no longer limited to large enterprises or experimental labs. Small and mid-sized businesses across the South Carolina Lowcountry, Savannah, and the Golden Isles of Georgia are increasingly exploring AI to improve efficiency, decision-making, and competitiveness. However, AI strategy is not about adopting tools quickly. It is about making disciplined, informed decisions that align technology with business goals, operational realities, and long-term accountability. At KeaneAdvisors.AI, AI strategy is delivered through a structured, business-first approach: Assess, Design, and Deploy.

This category focuses on practical guidance for evaluating, testing, and overseeing AI systems as they grow more capable, adaptive, and embedded in business operations.

Phase 1: Assess — AI Readiness, Risk, and Opportunity

The assessment phase establishes clarity before any technology decisions are made. Many AI initiatives fail because organizations skip this step and move directly to tools. During an AI Strategy Assessment, we work closely with leadership to evaluate:

Topics include:

• Business objectives and operational pain points
• Existing systems, data quality, and workflows
• Readiness of staff and management to adopt AI-assisted processes
• Governance, compliance, and risk considerations
• Where AI can realistically deliver value—and where it should not be used

For businesses in regulated or relationship-driven markets common in the Lowcountry and coastal Georgia—such as professional services, healthcare support, logistics, real estate, and regional service firms—this phase is critical.

The outcome of the assessment is a clear, prioritized view of:

• Viable AI use cases
• Expected impact and effort
• Risks and constraints
• A realistic path forward