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SMALL BUSINESS FESTIVAL - AI & Automation for Small Business

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AI & Automation for Small Business
Practical Tools to Save Time, Reduce Errors and Improve Profitability

Monday 10 August 2026 5:30 - 7:30pm No Charge Smart Business Solutions
Level 1 / 328 Main Street Mornington, VIC
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OVERVIEW

Small businesses are under increasing pressure to do more with less. Fewer staff, tighter margins and rising compliance obligations mean efficiency is no longer optional. This practical session helps small business owners understand AI and automation and shows how small businesses can use smarter tools to reduce manual work, improve accuracy and create more capacity for growth.

Designed specifically for non-technical business owners and managers, this session focuses on real-world applications, affordable AI tools and realistic next steps. No hype. No hard sell. Just clarity, confidence and practical guidance you can apply immediately.

We recommend you bring your laptop so you can try various tools during the workshop.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

By the end of the session, you will leave with:

  • A clear understanding of what AI and automation could do for your business
  • Practical examples of tasks you could automate immediately
  • A simple framework to identify automation-ready processes in your own business
  • Awareness of important considerations including cyber security, controls and governance
  • Increased confidence to take the first step without over-investing

This session equips you with the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions and take realistic next steps that suit your business.

Who this session is for

This session is ideal for:

  • Micro to medium-sized businesses with 1 to 50 employees
  • Service-based businesses, professional services, trades, retail and hospitality
  • Business owners, directors, practice managers and operations managers

Experience level:

  • Beginner to intermediate
  • No prior knowledge of AI or automation required
  • Designed specifically for non-technical audiences

Why this session is high value


This session is particularly relevant to businesses on the Mornington Peninsula and surrounding areas, especially those without dedicated IT teams or large budgets. It focuses on:

  • Practical efficiencies 
  • Affordable tools already available to SMEs
  • Reducing manual work and burnout
  • Improving consistency, accuracy and scalability

The goal is empowerment. Helping local business owners build confidence, work smarter and create more freedom in their business and their lives.


MEET YOUR FACILITATOR

Shannon Smit, Founding Director
SMART Business Solutions Group

This session is presented by Shannon Smit, Founder and CEO of SMART Business Solutions, a Mornington-based advisory firm supporting small and medium-sized businesses across accounting, business advisory, financial planning and mortgage broking.

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