As organizations large and small get back to "business as usual," many of us are realizing the "usual" looks a little different than it once did -- especially on the micro- to small-business scale. The post-pandemic revolution that's turning the business world on its head is that "business as usual" doesn't have to mean a bunch of people sitting around computers from 9 to 5, working for someone else, tied to a desk or office. And for many, the technology adopted during the pandemic just to stay afloat may have become a permanent means for successfully launching and running a business from the comfort of your home. Never in our pre-pandemic lives would most companies have imagined being able to support, let alone grow, their operations while working completely remote. Other companies are being built from the ground up, entirely supported by artificial intelligence automation and "e-everything" from the get-go.

Machine learning (ML) is quickly becoming a mainstay of the enterprise business world, yet entrepreneurs and small-business owners may shy away from investing in it. While you may not fully understand the ins and outs of ML or how it can benefit your small business, you can still make effective use of the technology without being an expert in it. We asked a panel of Forbes Technology Council members to share some smart ways entrepreneurs and small-business owners can leverage ML. Most ML models will require tons of data (the majority of them require supervised learning), which translates into a large effort that most entrepreneurs and small-business owners can't sustain. One approach is to leverage SaaS/PaaS services, such as the AWS portfolio of pre-trained artificial intelligence (AI) services: Comprehend, Rekognition, Lex, Personalize, Translate, Polly and others, each tailored to a specific domain.

Machine learning (ML) is quickly becoming a mainstay of the enterprise business world, yet entrepreneurs and small-business owners may shy away from investing in it. While you may not fully understand the ins and outs of ML or how it can benefit your small business, you can still make effective use of the technology without being an expert in it. We asked a panel of Forbes Technology Council members to share some smart ways entrepreneurs and small-business owners can leverage ML. Most ML models will require tons of data (the majority of them require supervised learning), which translates into a large effort that most entrepreneurs and small-business owners can't sustain. One approach is to leverage SaaS/PaaS services, such as the AWS portfolio of pre-trained artificial intelligence (AI) services: Comprehend, Rekognition, Lex, Personalize, Translate, Polly and others, each tailored to a specific domain.

Machine learning (ML) is quickly becoming a mainstay of the enterprise business world, yet entrepreneurs and small-business owners may shy away from investing in it. While you may not fully understand the ins and outs of ML or how it can benefit your small business, you can still make effective use of the technology without being an expert in it. We asked a panel of Forbes Technology Council members to share some smart ways entrepreneurs and small-business owners can leverage ML. Most ML models will require tons of data (the majority of them require supervised learning), which translates into a large effort that most entrepreneurs and small-business owners can't sustain. One approach is to leverage SaaS/PaaS services, such as the AWS portfolio of pre-trained artificial intelligence (AI) services: Comprehend, Rekognition, Lex, Personalize, Translate, Polly and others, each tailored to a specific domain.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is here to stay, and the tricky question for small business owners is not whether to jump on board, but when. Daniel Faggella, AI strategist and founder and CEO of Emerj, writes, "Given the inevitability of AI's applications across sectors, it would seem a good idea for small businesses to jump on the AI bandwagon sooner than later to be more competitive... Right?" In his Emerj article Is Artificial Intelligence for Small Business? Factors to Consider for Technology Adoption, he encourages caution. "Contrary to what might be hyped on social media, in nearly all application areas AI is an expensive and complex solution without evidence of direct ROI (return on investment)," writes Faggella.

With the New Year right around the corner, many small-business owners are likely wondering what to expect in 2019. After all, spotting or failing to recognize an important trend can be the difference between a banner year and one we'd rather forget. Many of us are wondering, for example, how the U.S. economy will impact business. Will hiring finally ease up? How will younger generations change our workforce?

The owner of Truck Gear SuperCenter, a Houston-based truck-accessory retailer, Towry, 62, once served as CEO of Leer, a $400-million-a-year manufacturer of truck accessories. "I'm very seasoned at managing a business," he says. And he appeared to be doing a good job at Truck Gear since he started the company in 2001. Revenue rose 25% to $2.5 million in 2004, while profits climbed 32%. When he learned about ProfitCents, a web-based accounting software program, he tried it mainly out of curiosity.

Carolina Huaranca is making a name for herself in Silicon Valley. During those three intensive days spent brainstorming new technologies, she realized she was not the only one. Huaranca was one of just two Latinos in a room of 100 people. Nonetheless, she gave birth to a start-up -- and a mission: to one day bring together Latinos so they, too, could have a shot at a career in the tech industry. Now as one of Silicon Valley's few Latina venture capitalists, Huaranca is making good on her promise by helping host Startup Weekend Oakland: Latinx Tech Edition.

Mitch and Freada Kapor have long been champions of equality. They talk about their hope for a more diverse tech workforce in Silicon Valley. Mitch was the man behind Lotus Notes and has gone on to be a big promoter of social issues. During those three intensive days spent brainstorming new technologies, she realized she was not the only one. Huaranca was one of just two Latinos in a room of 100 people.