Digital transformation in the age of AI
Report on the introductory event of the series ‘Lead Well. Successful Leadership’
from 20 May 2025 – online Zoom event
Artificial intelligence is no longer just a topic for large companies and tech corporations. SMEs are also at a turning point: between pressure to innovate, growing regulation and ever-new technological possibilities, the question arises – how can we successfully transition to the responsible, sustainable use of AI?
Together with GermanMittelstand e.V. and mib Mittelstand in Bavaria, the first digital event on the overarching topic of ‘Lead Well. Successful Leadership’ took place. In this series, we highlight current challenges and future topics for managers in SMEs – in a practical, interdisciplinary and solution-oriented manner.
The focus of this first edition is on artificial intelligence. Together with our thought leaders, three theses were put forward for discussion:
‘SMEs will be the winners of the AI age.’
Michael Menchau
Opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises through rapid adaptation and pragmatism
In his presentation on the topic, he talks about the renaissance of manufacturing – in the form of ‘AI manufacturing’. Small teams have many advantages and can achieve great things.
‘No one is AI-ready.’
Carsten Wittmann
A plea for courage to embrace gaps, learning through process and realistic expectations
- The uncomfortable truth
If you think your organisation is ready for artificial intelligence, then I'm afraid I have to disappoint you. No one is really AI-ready. And that's okay. Because the path to successful AI use does not begin with a big leap – but with small, concrete steps. - Why no one is AI-ready: Technology is not the problem. Models are there, tools are there.But culture, processes and data quality are often not prepared.
- Employees are uncertain: What does AI mean for my job?
- Managers are overwhelmed: Where to invest? What to prioritise?
- ‘AI is not plug-and-play. It is a change – technical, organisational, human.’
Small steps are the secret to success
- What works?
- Pilot projects instead of grand visions: A concrete use case with measurable benefits is better than an overly ambitious AI strategy.
- Start with ‘boring AI’: Begin with simple automations, such as email classification or text summaries.
- Involve employees: Training, open discussions, joint experiments.
- Create a data foundation: AI only works with clean, available data. Data strategy before model strategy. ‘Success comes from learning organisations – not from perfect plans.’
- Be realistic instead of radical
No one is AI-ready – but everyone can become AI-ready. Not through perfection, but through pragmatism. Not through pressure, but through learning. Small, bold steps make organisations fit for the future.
The best time to start: now.
’Nothing is good unless you do it.’ (Erich Kästner)
Andreas Essing
In his presentation, he shows ways to use AI sensibly and provides practical examples.
AI is not hype – it is already at work in many places today, hidden from view (e.g. Amazon, Facebook, LinkedIn, navigation).
Like digitalisation as a whole, AI is not an IT initiative or project.
Today's goal: to show how and where AI can be used specifically and effectively.
Advantages for SMEs
- Practical relevance, short communication channels (small teams, flat hierarchy), adaptability.
- Obstacles: time, expertise, resources, fear of change.
- Opportunity: get started now instead of catching up later.
However, what we often observe is that
Everyone is ‘playing around’ with it. They enjoy it, but have no strategic use for improving processes or efficiency
The focus is on tools and benchmarks (new LLMs every few days, new tools every few days)
Lack of focus on integration into existing tools that are already in use in the company
Lack of integration of company data (‘hello, cloud’)
AI is understood and experienced as an ‘IT project
The pace of development is strategically underestimated
Focus on chatbots rather than agents/assistants
The concluding discussion highlighted the importance and, above all, the urgency of the topic of AI.
The next online event in the ‘Lead Well. Successful Leadership’ series:
‘Securing skilled workers’
This event will focus on innovative approaches to attracting and retaining skilled workers, for example through an innovative corporate culture, new work and personal branding.
Tuesday, 3 June 2025 from 10:00 to 12:00
