Current Volume 8
Abstract
In today’s rapidly evolving digital economy, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) face significant challenges in remaining competitive, efficient, and sustainable. Among the most pressing barriers are limited financial resources, lack of technical expertise, and inadequate access to scalable digital solutions. This study explores how affordable automation, driven by cloud-based Business Intelligence (BI) systems, offers a transformative pathway to enhance SME sustainability. By utilizing cloud infrastructure, SMEs can access advanced analytics, real-time reporting, and data-driven decision-making tools without the need for substantial capital investment in hardware or specialized IT personnel. This paper investigates various case studies and empirical evidence to demonstrate the operational benefits and cost-efficiency of adopting cloud-based BI tools, including Microsoft Power BI, Google Data Studio, and Tableau Online. Findings reveal that cloud-based BI systems facilitate process optimization, inventory management, customer relationship insights, and financial forecasting, which are crucial for long-term sustainability and growth. Moreover, automation through cloud BI platforms reduces manual errors, improves productivity, and enables SMEs to pivot strategies swiftly in response to market dynamics. The abstract also highlights the role of government and development agencies in promoting digital literacy and subsidizing technology adoption to bridge the digital divide. The research adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining survey responses from SME managers and interviews with IT consultants, to understand the motivations, barriers, and outcomes of cloud BI implementation. Policy recommendations are proposed for stakeholders to create an enabling environment for digital transformation, including tax incentives, training grants, and low-interest financing options for SMEs transitioning to cloud-based systems. The study concludes that leveraging affordable cloud-based BI systems is not just a technological upgrade but a strategic imperative for SMEs aiming to achieve economic resilience, operational excellence, and environmental sustainability. This paper contributes to the growing body of literature advocating for inclusive digital innovation as a driver of sustainable development in the SME sector.
Keywords
Business Intelligence, Cloud Computing, SME Sustainability, Affordable Automation, Digital Transformation, Data-Driven Decision Making, Operational Efficiency, Technology Adoption.
Citations
IRE Journals:
Ejielo Ogbuefi , Azubike Collins Mgbame , Oyinomomo-emi Emmanuel Akpe , Abraham Ayodeji Abayomi , Oluwatobi Opeyemi Adeyelu
"Affordable Automation: Leveraging Cloud-Based BI Systems for SME Sustainability" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 5 Issue 12 2022 Page 489-505
IEEE:
Ejielo Ogbuefi , Azubike Collins Mgbame , Oyinomomo-emi Emmanuel Akpe , Abraham Ayodeji Abayomi , Oluwatobi Opeyemi Adeyelu
"Affordable Automation: Leveraging Cloud-Based BI Systems for SME Sustainability" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 5(12)
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IRE Journals is an open access online journals established with an aim to publish high quality of research work in various diciplines. We have more than 6 years in publications. Over 2500+ papers already published.
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