In a market that demands quick responses, personalization, and data-driven decisions, innovation has ceased to be a competitive advantage—and has become a criterion for survival. In this context, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is beginning to gain ground among small Brazilian businesses as an accessible, practical, and quickly rewarding ally.
According to recent data from the Sebrae Innovation Observatory,78% of the country's microenterprises already use data-driven technologies and algorithms to automate tasks and generate insights.The movement accompanies the growth of entrepreneurship in Brazil: only in the first quarter of 2025, there were opened1.4 million new small businesses, consolidating the country as the 6th with the most established entrepreneurs in the world, according to Federal Government figures.
"Today, AI is no longer exclusive to large corporations with million-dollar budgets. There are ready-to-use tools, low-cost, and specifically aimed at the daily life of small entrepreneurs," he says.Antonio Muniz, technology specialist and president ofBrasport Publishing, a reference in technical publications in the fields of IT and management.
According to him, the main advantage lies in the simplicity of adoption: "The big turnaround is understanding that AI can start small, with simple solutions like"chatbots for customer service, recommendation systems, or email marketing automationsThe secret is to start with strategic focus and grow based on results.
AI in practice: first steps for the small entrepreneur
Despite the increasing accessibility, many small business owners still have doubts about how to start applying artificial intelligence in their daily operations. For Muniz, the first step is to map operational bottlenecks — manual processes that consume time, generate rework, or hinder the business from scaling.
Among the most viable uses for small businesses are:
- WhatsApp customer service botsto answer questions and automatically capture orders;
- AI-powered CRM tools, who segment customers and personalize marketing campaigns;
- Generative AI (such as ChatGPT)for writing product descriptions, social media posts, and sales emails;
- Demand forecasting systems and inventory control, based on the sales history;
- Data analysis platforms, which help anticipate consumer behaviors and market trends.
"These technologies do not require deep technical knowledge. The most important thing is for the entrepreneur to start — even with just one process — and understand how AI can increase their efficiency and competitiveness," concludes Muniz.
