Here’s the shift AI is driving: relationship management is becoming as much a science as it is an art.

For many SMEs, business development is part strategy, part instinct, and part juggling act. You might know your key clients well but keeping track of follow-ups, nurturing prospects, or spotting subtle shifts in relationships often comes down to gut feel, inbox searches, and memory. And that’s where AI is starting to quietly elevate what’s possible.

What We Heard from the Frontline Over coffee with my best friend Chris, a procurement lead at a growing UK business, he said something that resonated: “We don’t have a problem with supplier choice - we have a problem tracking how well they perform, when contracts are due, and what risk sits where.” Sound familiar? Many SMEs lack the time, tools, or teams to properly monitor supplier performance or predict issues before they happen. That means missed renewal dates, late deli