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<\/p>\nThis cyclical model shapes how many SMEs experience compliance \u2013 reactive, time-bound and disconnected from the day-to-day activity that generates the underlying data. Artificial intelligence is beginning to change that by shifting compliance from a periodic task to a continuous process embedded within the workflow itself.<\/p>\n
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Paul Robson, chief executive of MYOB.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the big things that we\u2019re doing is making it an always-on function,\u201d Robson says. \u201cAs the software needs information out of your head, it asks you for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
In practice, that means tasks such as BAS preparation can move from a periodic exercise to something built in the background as transactions occur. Instead of reconstructing information after the fact, systems can prompt for input at the point of activity.<\/p>\n
MYOB\u2019s AI BAS support agent is one example of how this approach is being applied, taking transaction data and user inputs to prepare a position that is ready for review by the end of a reporting period. Similar principles are being applied across other administrative workflows within MYOB, including reconciliation and invoice management, where automation can reduce the need for manual intervention.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not just eliminating frustrating, admin-heavy work, we\u2019re redefining how small businesses run,\u201d Robson says. \u201cWhen you put AI to work on compliance admin and routine tasks, the business owner feels the effect immediately, driving impact and confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n
The appeal is straightforward. Unlike broader AI applications that may require changes to processes or behaviour, use cases that focus on reducing administrative burden address existing pain points.<\/p>\n
According to MYOB\u2019s Bi-Annual Business Monitor, 46 per cent of SMEs are not currently using AI tools and do not intend to in the coming 12 months, suggesting significant headroom for growth. Where adoption does occur, it is often concentrated in areas where the value is clear and the workflow is well defined.<\/p>\n
It also points to a practical issue \u2013 integration. Many SMEs operate with a combination of different software systems. Introducing standalone AI tools can add complexity if they do not align with existing processes. Embedding AI within core systems, by contrast, allows it to operate across the full lifecycle of a task.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo create real value, AI needs to be deeply embedded in the product and the way a business operates, shaping decisions, anticipating needs and doing the heavy lifting in the background so business owners can focus on higher value work,\u201d says Robson.<\/p>\n
This is pushing providers to build end-to-end workflows. Rather than isolated features, the emphasis is on extending workflows from start to finish, utilising the same underlying data to support multiple stages of activity.<\/p>\n
For SMEs, the practical impact is less about the underlying technology and more about how it is delivered, particularly in areas such as cashflow and day-to-day financial management. Tools that operate within existing systems and respond to real-world tasks are more likely to be adopted than those that require businesses to change how they work.<\/p>\n
Robson says the impact extends beyond compliance admin itself.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe number one reason for small business failure in the Australian New Zealand market is cashflow,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
Reducing the time spent on administrative work and improving the flow of financial information through the business is part of what makes these tools more immediately useful to smaller operators.<\/p>\n
For policymakers and industry bodies, that shift is not about the technology itself, but what it frees up.<\/p>\n
Lee Hickin, executive director of the National AI Centre, says the first benefits tend to be practical.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor many small businesses, the earliest value from AI is straightforward,\u201d Hickin says. \u201cWhen routine administrative and compliance tasks take less time, individuals can redirect that time into work that strengthens the business and drives growth and productivity.\u201d<\/p>\n
That dynamic helps explain why administrative workflows are emerging as a practical starting point for adoption. Tasks such as record keeping, reporting and BAS preparation are rules-based, repeatable and central to daily operations \u2013 conditions where AI can be applied with relatively low risk and immediate benefit.<\/p>\n
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Lee Hickin, executive director of the National AI Centre.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAI works best when it fits naturally into the workflows people already use,\u201d Hickin says. \u201cWhen it helps simplify tasks like record keeping, reporting or BAS preparation, it becomes more practical and more likely to stick.\u201d<\/p>\n
The challenge, however, is not just technical. Broader adoption across the SME sector continues to be shaped by skills gaps, cost pressures and confidence.<\/p>\n
Data from the National AI Centre\u2019s AI Adoption Tracker shows uptake is increasing, but many businesses remain cautious, particularly where use cases are unclear or integration with existing systems is uncertain. Smaller and regional businesses, in particular, often face lower awareness and capability.<\/p>\n
That is where practical guidance and embedded tools are likely to play a role. Businesses that can start with familiar workflows, see measurable time savings and build confidence through use are more likely to extend AI into other parts of their operations.<\/p>\n
At a broader level, the implications extend beyond individual firms. MYOB analysed anonymised and aggregated data from hundreds of thousands of SMEs and found those using AI products and features are growing 2.8 times faster than those that are not.<\/p>\n
For SMEs, the immediate impact is simple. Less time spent on repetitive tasks means more time for customers, staff and decision-making. Over time, that shift may become one of the more tangible ways artificial intelligence contributes to productivity across the economy.<\/p>\n