The hype is loud; budgets aren’t infinite. Here’s a practical 2025 roadmap we’re recommending
to SME leaders.

1) Start where revenue happens

• Add AI assistants to handle FAQs, lead capture, and order/status queries.
• Use guided flows in checkout or booking to lift conversions without a redesign.

2) Build a usable data spine

• Centralise operational data with clean IDs and consent tracking.
• Ship monthly insights: funnel drop-offs, cohort retention, churn signals.

3) Cost-smart cloud

• Right-size instances, add autoscaling, and set budgets/alerts.
• Containerise services to simplify deployments and rollback.

4) Security you can’t postpone

• MFA, SSO, role-based access, and secrets management.
• Logging, backups, and a tested recovery plan.

5) Deliver in slices

• Quarterly themes; 2–4 week increments; one owner per outcome.
• Treat documentation as part of “done,” not an afterthought.

Call to action: Want a customised 90-day plan? We’ll map these steps to your stack and budget.