How Most Small Businesses are Paralysed by AI, a thought leadership article by decodifi CEO Charlie Bartle

I talk to small business owners every day about AI. Most conversations start the same way. They know AI could help their business. They've heard the success stories. But they're frozen by a simple question: where do I even start?

The paralysis isn't about money or technology. It's about fear and knowledge gaps that run deeper than most people realise.

The Real Barriers Aren't What You Think

When I ask business owners what's stopping them, the answers are predictable. Data security tops the list. "Will my prompts go out into the world? Am I giving competitors my secret sauce?" But security concerns mask the real problem.

Research confirms what I see daily: knowledge gaps are the biggest barrier. Most SME leaders struggle to comprehend AI's practical applications within their specific business contexts. There's also a barrier they don't even know exists yet. Most businesses don't know what's possible.

I'm passionate about showing people what AI can actually do for their specific situation. But you can't want what you can't see.

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Where Most Businesses Actually Start

Seventy-five to eighty percent of the businesses I work with are already using ChatGPT. They treat it like a search engine. Static, one-off questions throughout the day.

My first move is simple. I show them how to create a custom GPT or Gemini agent. The light bulb moment is instant. "Oh right, wow, this is what I can do with it." Starting really small works. Understanding where people are and meeting them there builds confidence before they explore what's next.

The early wins are predictable: rewriting emails, marketing content, social media posts, proposals, lengthy documentation. Anything that historically took them hours to craft. Marketing sees the fastest adoption because people view it as lower risk. If an AI-generated social post isn't perfect, the world doesn't end.

The Scaling Problem Nobody Talks About

Individual adoption isn't the real challenge. The stumbling block is true adoption across the business.

People see personal benefits quickly. But rolling that out across an organisation while maintaining control as a business owner? That's where most initiatives stall.

Research backs this up: only scaling challenges show that just 26% of companies successfully move beyond proofs of concept to generate tangible value. The businesses that succeed share one characteristic: mindset.

Fixed Mindset Versus Growth Mindset

This change is bigger than anything we've seen before. People who can't embrace change or are nervous about it definitely struggle. But the reality is harsh. If they don't do anything about it, their businesses will get left behind. I'm trying to show them what's possible. But you can't force someone to see opportunity where they only see threat.

The successful businesses view AI as an enabler, not a replacement. They understand something most don't: AI tools will allow them to have more human interaction, not less. When AI handles routine tasks, people can focus on what humans do best. Building relationships. Solving complex problems. Creating genuine value.

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The Practical Starting Point

If I had minimal budget, I'd start with individual agent options in Gemini and ChatGPT. Get team members experimenting with their own versions. Run that for a period of time. Let them see where they're gaining efficiency and process improvements. Start making a log. Record everything.

The data tells the story. When businesses implement AI thoughtfully, revenue boost follows: 91% of small and medium businesses with AI say it boosts their revenue. The next level involves engaging experts for a full digital transformation workshop. Looking at end-to-end processes to identify where real agentic implementation could create opportunities. But that comes later. First, just get started.

The Coming Split

I predict we'll see a split over the next 12-18 months. Some businesses will embrace AI, jump on it, and really start to bed it in. They'll see the value and build competitive advantages. Others will dig their heels in. They'll keep doing what they've always done and hope that still works.

The nervousness often comes from wanting human interaction. People fear AI will eliminate the human touch that makes their business special. What they don't realise is that AI tools will actually enable more meaningful human connections. When you're not spending hours on email rewrites and proposal drafts, you can focus on what really matters.

Just Get Started

The single most important advice I give every business owner is simple: just get started. It doesn't have to be huge. Don't be scared by it. Start small and see what it can do. The businesses winning with AI aren't the ones with the biggest budgets or most technical expertise. They're the ones willing to experiment, learn, and adapt.

Your competitors are already experimenting. The question isn't whether AI will transform your industry. The question is whether you'll be leading that transformation or scrambling to catch up.

Start with one custom GPT. Give your team permission to play. Document what works. Small steps compound into competitive advantages. But only if you take the first one.

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