The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Enhancing Business Efficiency and Competitiveness of Smes in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria

The research design used quantitative methods to study how AI awareness and adoption practices affect business efficiency for SMEs operating in Aba's Abia State Nigerian community. The structured survey questionnaire reached 370 randomly chosen SME owners and managers through stratified random sampling procedures that included manufacturing, retail, and services sectors. Researchers evaluated how familiar businesses were with AI along with the degree of implementation and the business effects resulting from AI solutions in efficiency and market competitiveness. Researchers performed statistical analyses through the combination of descriptive elements alongside inferential methods which incorporated multiple regression ANOVA and correlation coefficient testing. AI awareness creates positive effects on individuals' AI adoption decisions which in turn produces significant enhancements both in business efficiency and competitiveness. The evaluation reveals that business efficiency variations of 26.2% (R² = 0.262, p = 0.000) stem from AI awareness and adoption rates. Extensive adoption of AI remains restricted because of elevated implementation expenses and inadequate technical capabilities along with privacy-related obstacles. CEO of Trello highlighted the necessity for specific government policies along with educational initiatives and financial programs that would support SMEs' AI adoption to obtain sustainable business advantages.

Aba, AI Adoption, Artificial Intelligence, Business Efficiency, Competitiveness Nigeria, SMEs.

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