Thinc launches AI service for SMEs as governance looms

Thinc has launched an AI and automation service for small and medium-sized enterprises. The Manchester-based IT provider is targeting organisations that need a more structured route into AI adoption.

The service covers consultancy, automation, AI tools and software development for companies at different stages of adoption. It is aimed at SMEs that are assessing their readiness, testing early use cases or moving projects into production.

The launch comes as many mid-market businesses continue to weigh up how to use AI beyond early experiments with chat tools. Thinc's research found that 51% of SME decision-makers viewed AI and automation as a "game-changer", but leaders in different functions were not aligned on where to seek guidance on new technologies.

Richard Stathers, Co-owner and Operations Director at Thinc, said customer discussions had moved on from initial curiosity about generative AI tools.

"The needs of organisations are evolving. Twelve months ago, organisations were hearing about AI and they felt that they had to be doing something with it. And that led to a rush to using tools like ChatGPT and Claude. I think now that's started to settle down. The conversations that we're now having with customers have moved to understanding and creating clarity around processes that they have today. What processes maybe could be automated, what systems could be integrated, and where AI could enhance the level of decision making or improve the outputs of those processes," Stathers said.

Thinc's service starts with a workshop to review a company's existing systems, data and workflows. From there, it can advise whether AI or automation is suitable, connect business applications so information moves automatically between them, and either deploy existing tools or build custom applications around a client's operations.

The offer also includes software development tied to finance and ERP systems. This focuses on extending or customising existing platforms through modules, workflows and reports, rather than requiring a full replacement of core systems.

SME pressure

For smaller organisations, the challenge is often less about awareness of AI than deciding where it fits into day-to-day operations. Many lack dedicated internal IT teams or senior leadership structures that can set a technology strategy across departments, making it harder to move from trial use to formal deployment.

That can leave businesses caught between a fast-moving supplier market and uncertain internal ownership. Some SMEs approaching Thinc for advice want to make greater use of workplace AI but remain unsure where to start. Others have yet to see clear results from their first experiments or need simpler automation linked to existing systems rather than large development projects.

Thinc argues that this creates demand for support that combines AI expertise with experience of the broader business software already used by smaller firms. The company has spent more than 30 years working with the systems SMEs rely on, particularly ERP and business applications, and said that background shapes the new service.

Stathers said Thinc's existing work in business systems and integration sets it apart in a crowded market.

"There are a lot of AI-focused consultancies out there addressing the SME market, and they've got very capable individuals and technologists working within those organisations. But what Thinc offers goes deeper. Our heritage is implementing ERP and business systems, integrating SaaS systems together. And the reason why that is important for our customers is that our consultants have many years of working with hundreds of different organisations, understanding the challenges that they have and identifying solutions to enable their business," Stathers said.

Governance shift

The launch also reflects a broader change in how businesses are discussing AI. Thinc pointed to large enterprises placing greater emphasis on issues such as security, governance and cost, and said the mid-market is likely to face the same questions as usage becomes more established.

That shift matters because many workplace uses of AI have already arrived informally, often through staff experimenting with consumer tools for writing, analysis or routine tasks. Services aimed at SMEs are increasingly focused on bringing those activities under clearer management, tying them to internal processes and deciding where automation can be justified.

Thinc, which works with more than 400 SMEs in the UK and North America, said its independent position allows it to advise across a range of technologies rather than steer clients towards a single vendor stack. The company also cited separate survey findings that SMEs value flexibility, adaptability and partnership from independent IT providers.

Stathers said governance is likely to become a more prominent issue for mid-sized organisations as adoption widens.

"As technology continues at pace, I think the narrative or the conversation is now going to move to how it's governed and owned within organisations. Within the enterprise space, that's already a hot topic that's being discussed a lot. I think that's going to come to the mid-market very soon as well," Stathers said.