AI in Action: UTM strengthens business strategies for entrepreneurs

Dr. Logaiswari Indiran

📝 Summary

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) has launched a knowledge-transfer initiative to help micro and small businesses strengthen their AI capabilities and turn AI into practical business solutions. The programme, led by UTM faculty members, guided 18 entrepreneurs from diverse industries through three practical modules to use AI systematically and make better strategic decisions. The programme demonstrated how AI can be made accessible and practical for entrepreneurs to use confidently and strategically for real business growth.

KUALA LUMPUR, Sep 28 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) is strengthening the AI capabilities of micro and small businesses through the ‘Program Pemantapan Kemahiran AI dalam Kalangan Usahawan Mikro dan Kecil’, a knowledge-transfer initiative aimed at helping entrepreneurs turn Artificial Intelligence (AI) into practical business solutions.

The programme is led by Ts. Dr. Noorlizawati Abd Rahim from the Faculty of Artificial Intelligence (FAI), UTM, with the AI for Business Strategy programme led by Senior Lecturer Dr. Logaiswari Indiran from the Faculty of Management, UTM.

Entrepreneurs with programme leads Dr. Logaiswari Indiran and Ts. Dr. Noorlizawati Abd Rahim during the AI for Business Strategy programme at the Faculty of Artificial Intelligence (FAI), UTM Kuala Lumpur

The one-day programme, themed “AI for Business Strategy”, brought together 18 micro and small entrepreneurs from diverse industries, including travel and tourism, food and beverage, fashion and tailoring, property and real estate, management services, trading and other service-based businesses.

Dr. Logaiswari Indiran introducing practical AI applications for business strategy and growth

Participants during the ice-breaking session, sharing their motivations for joining the programme and highlighting the challenges they encounter in adopting AI for their business operations and growth

Rather than focusing only on introducing AI tools, the programme guided participants to use AI systematically to understand their businesses, identify opportunities and make better strategic decisions through three practical modules: Introduction to AI in Business, Building a Business Model with AI, and AI Applications and Business Impact.

Dr. Logaiswari presenting the step-by-step AI prompt approach designed to support business strategy development

A key feature was a step-by-step AI prompt module that guided entrepreneurs through identifying and refining business problems, analysing customers and market opportunities, generating solutions and developing their Business Model Canvas (BMC). Participants were also guided to convert their ideas into a 30-Day Business Growth Action Plan that could be implemented immediately.

The prompt module was designed so that participants could continue using it independently after the programme. This was especially useful for entrepreneurs with limited prior experience with AI, as it provided a clear sequence of prompts to help them analyse their businesses and translate AI-generated ideas into practical decisions.

Entrepreneurs were guided by the facilitator throughout the hands-on session, helping them apply the structured AI prompts to their own business challenges and growth strategies

Participants using AI prompts to analyse their own business challenges during the hands-on session

“AI becomes valuable when entrepreneurs know what questions to ask and how to translate the answers into business action. Our aim was not only to teach them how to use AI, but to provide a structured process that they can continue using to strengthen and grow their businesses,” said Dr. Logais.

The programme also recognised participants who demonstrated strong engagement and application of the concepts introduced. Norarsikin Maakim of Ct Amira Atelier was named AI Business Strategy Champion, while Mohd Khairul Hafiz Rusli of KHAF Empire Sdn. Bhd. received the Best Business Model recognition. Ahmad Fazwan Ahmad Washid of MARHAKIM Sdn. Bhd. received the Best 30-Day Action Plan recognition.

Sample of participants’ output: 30-Day Business Growth Action Plan, turning their AI-generated ideas into clear actions for the next 30 days

Fully sponsored by the UTM Centre for Community and Industry Network (CCIN), the programme was implemented with the support of InnovNation, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Kuala Lumpur Subsection, IEEE Technology and Engineering Management Society (IEEE TEMS) Malaysia Chapter, Dewan Perdagangan Islam Malaysia (DPIM), and KB Beyond Creative.

The programme demonstrated how AI can be made practical and accessible to entrepreneurs regardless of industry or level of technical experience, helping them move beyond simply knowing about AI towards using it confidently, strategically and independently to support real business growth.