Access Bank has launched a new AI-powered application designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) manage inventory, track sales, and oversee staff activities. The tool was unveiled during the bank’s maiden SME conference in Lagos, titled ‘AI for SMEs: Scaling Through Digital Tools,’ which aimed to promote technology adoption among small businesses. While the initiative offers operational improvements, industry analysis suggests that technology alone may not address fundamental structural barriers such as limited access to credit, high operating costs, and poor financial management, which contribute to a high first-year failure rate among Nigerian SMEs.