Workshop Canvas
AI-4-SME Framework
Identification and utilisation of strategic AI opportunities to strengthen an organisation’s competitiveness and innovation capabilities
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is of great importance for a company’s competitiveness and ability to innovate, and therefore for its financial performance. Through the targeted use of AI technologies, processes can be made more efficient, better decisions can be made, tasks can be automated, improved or made possible in the first place and new business opportunities can be created. However, access to AI is difficult for many organisations. On the one hand, there is a lack of knowledge about AI and, on the other hand, a lack of understanding about how AI can be used.
The AI-4-SME framework was developed with the support of various business, research and media partners. It supports organisations to recognise and document potential applications of AI and implement successful projects. With this method, organisations can find, customise, develop, implement and successfully use AI applications that are suitable and efficient in line with their business strategies.
The AI-4-SME Framework
The AI-4-SME framework comprises three phases:
Marc K. Peter, Emanuele Laurenzi & Knut Hinkelmann (2025): Workshop Canvas AI-4-SME Framework. FHNW School of Business, Switzerland.
Phase 1:
1. Company Level
Identification of products and services (existing or new) for which the use of AI is suitable.
Identification of knowledge and data-intensive tasks and definition of key goals.
Phase 2:
Build
The build phase comprises the development and implementation of AI solutions, focusing on the collaboration between humans and AI.
Phase 3:
Run
For your AI project, use the practical guide (in German) for a description of the AI-4-SME framework for insights into many topics on AI (e.g. knowledge-based AI, ML, DL, generative AI, AI and humans, AI use in the workplace, AI and cybersecurity, as well as the legal frameworks in Switzerland and the EU) and for case studies from Swiss companies.
Visit www.ki-zentrum.ch for further information.
Head of Research Group Intelligent Information Systems
Lead Researcher Intelligent and Innovative Information Systems