Access Bank Plc has introduced a new artificial intelligence powered platform, the Access SME App, aimed at helping small and medium sized enterprises simplify their daily business operations through a single digital solution.
The application was unveiled during the bank’s first SME conference held in Lagos over the weekend. The event, themed AI for SMEs: Scaling Through Digital Tools, brought together government representatives, technology professionals and business leaders to discuss how artificial intelligence is transforming the business landscape.
Participants at the conference agreed that AI has become an essential tool for businesses seeking to improve productivity, reach more customers and expand their operations in an increasingly competitive market.
Speaking at the event, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Entrepreneurship Development in Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Chalya Shagaya, encouraged entrepreneurs to embrace artificial intelligence as a practical tool for business growth.
She explained that while every successful business begins with a good idea, technology has become critical in turning those ideas into sustainable ventures. According to her, many entrepreneurs juggle multiple responsibilities, including customer service, marketing, inventory management and accounting, and AI can ease that burden by automating routine tasks and improving efficiency.
Executive Director of the University of Lagos Business School, Professor Sunday Adebisi, also highlighted the vital role small businesses play in Nigeria’s economy. He urged entrepreneurs to strengthen their digital capabilities, adopt AI driven solutions and build stronger relationships with customers through improved online engagement.
Adebisi noted that nearly half of small businesses struggle to survive beyond their first year, stressing that artificial intelligence can help business owners analyse data, make informed decisions and improve long term performance.
Speaking on the newly launched Access SME App, the bank’s Head of SME Banking, Abiodun Olubitan, said the platform was created after listening to the concerns of small business owners who felt that many existing digital tools were either too complicated or designed mainly for large organisations.
She explained that the app was built specifically to meet the needs of SMEs by giving business owners a complete overview of their operations. With the platform, users can conveniently monitor sales, inventory and staff activities from any location.
During a panel discussion, Executive Director of Information Technology and Digitisation at Access Holdings Plc, Lanre Bamisebi, said many organisations mistakenly view digital transformation as simply adopting new technology.
He stressed that successful digital transformation begins with understanding customers’ needs before selecting the right technological solutions, describing technology as a tool that should support better service delivery rather than drive business decisions on its own.
Also speaking at the conference, Huawei Nigeria’s Country Manager for the Financial Services Industry, Glarry Gao, said artificial intelligence presents small businesses with an opportunity to compete more effectively with larger organisations. According to him, AI enables entrepreneurs to better understand customer behaviour, improve operational efficiency and expand their businesses through digital platforms.
The launch of the Access SME App reflects the bank’s commitment to supporting small businesses with innovative digital solutions that simplify operations, improve productivity and position entrepreneurs for long term growth in today’s technology driven economy.
