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In this episode of The Human-First AI Marketing Podcast, Mike Montague sits down with Dilip Dubey, founder of Sutra.AI, to explore how small and mid-sized businesses can finally unlock the real promise of AI, without needing massive budgets or technical teams. Dilip shares what he calls the “three big shifts” AI is making possible for SMBs: closed-loop marketing, precision timing, and access to global data insights. If you’re a business owner or marketing director who’s tired of hearing the AI hype and not seeing results, this one’s for you.
Together, Mike and Dilip unpack real-world examples, like how one regional retailer used AI to increase top-line revenue by 6% in six months. You’ll also hear why AI tools alone don’t create business outcomes; solutions do. Whether you're trying to modernize your marketing or empower your team without replacing them, this episode is your roadmap to using AI that actually works. Tune in and walk away with practical ideas to apply right away.
Key Takeaways
1. AI empowers business leaders, not just tech teams.
You no longer need an IT department to take action; AI gives SMB leaders direct control over business outcomes.
2. Closed-loop marketing is finally possible for SMBs
AI connects the dots across data sources in real time, helping businesses see what’s working and make smarter decisions faster.
3. Precision marketing is about timing, not just targeting
It’s not just who you reach, but when AI can help you show up at the right moment in the buyer’s decision journey.
4. Global insights are now available at your fingertips
AI tools allow SMBs to tap into worldwide market trends and competitor data that used to be out of reach.
5. Most SMBs confuse AI tools with actual solutions.
The real ROI comes from using AI as part of a complete system or strategy, not just adding it on top of what you already do.
6. Don’t try to win the AI talent war, train your team to use AI instead
Hiring AI engineers isn’t practical for most SMBs, but upskilling your current people to use AI effectively is.
7. Focus on use cases with clear ROI first
Avoid hobby projects. Start with small AI wins tied to revenue growth, cost savings, or customer experience improvements.
8.Your data is more valuable than ever, and easier to use
AI can now help you clean, structure, and activate your existing business data faster than ever before.
The Human-First AI Marketing Podcast is brought to you by Avenue9. We use artificial intelligence to amplify your unique voice, empower your marketing team, and enable your scaling business to achieve big-brand success.
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