Innovation is being sought in all corners of the economy, and technology is seen as the way forward. Manufacturers now track, in real time, how their products are being used -- and download upgrades to everything from stereo speakers to cars. We've seen augmented reality provide data-driven layers of visualization to product selections, and algorithms set the tones of conversations with customers. Cloud and AI pave the way to innovation.Photo by Joe McKendrick Executives are buying into the potential of technology-driven innovation, but are still fumbling when it comes to making it happen, according to a recent survey of 500 executives by Ernst & Young. Executives are also putting more credence in artificial intelligence (AI).

Suddenly it's all about small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) as this oft-overlooked sector of the global economy now takes center stage. In the FinTech world, a swathe of products are being launched to suit the sector, be that blockchain-based ideas to speed up invoice payment or access to capital funds that were previously unavailable. Now the AI world is joining in with promises of predicting consumer behavior geared towards SMEs who have to compete with tech giants that mop up the best data scientists and their algorithms. The current state of play means SMEs find it hard to compete with the cost, complexity and consulting taken by big enterprises. So step forward tech company Xineoh that says it has developed a platform for predicting customer behaviour with AI'which allows businesses to out-predict their competition thus allowing them to maximize efficiency and customer satisfaction'. Its so-called bespoke AI solutions on Xineoh's platform can be implemented rapidly without the cost, complexity and consulting required by other methods.

Suddenly it's all about small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) as this oft-overlooked sector of the global economy now takes center stage. In the FinTech world, a swathe of products are being launched to suit the sector, be that blockchain-based ideas to speed up invoice payment or access to capital funds that were previously unavailable. Now the AI world is joining in with promises of predicting consumer behavior geared towards SMEs who have to compete with tech giants that mop up the best data scientists and their algorithms. The current state of play means SMEs find it hard to compete with the cost, complexity and consulting taken by big enterprises. So step forward tech company Xineoh that says it has developed a platform for predicting customer behaviour with AI'which allows businesses to out-predict their competition thus allowing them to maximize efficiency and customer satisfaction'.