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September 10, 2025
Trust, not just technology: What I learned building AI finance tools for SMEs in Southeast Asia
When I started ccMonet.ai, my vision wasn’t just to automate accounting. It was to solve something deeper: the anxiety that small business owners feel when they lose control over their own numbers. In Southeast Asia, most SMEs don’t operate with structured finance teams. They invoice via WhatsApp, track expenses with paper receipts, and rely on [...]The post Trust, not just technology: What I learned building AI finance tools for SMEs in Southeast Asia appeared first on e27.
Southeast Asia's vibrant small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of its economy, yet many grapple with a silent struggle: managing their finances. For many, it's a constant source of anxiety, a feeling of losing control over the very lifeblood of their business. This is the challenge that spurred the creation of ccMonet.ai, a platform designed to bring clarity and control to SME finances using the power of artificial intelligence.
However, the journey hasn't been just about deploying cutting-edge technology. The founder of ccMonet.ai discovered that building trust is just as, if not more, crucial than the technological solutions themselves. In Southeast Asia, the financial landscape for SMEs is often characterized by informality. Many businesses operate without dedicated finance teams, relying on a patchwork of methods to manage their money. Invoices are sent through WhatsApp, expenses are tracked using physical receipts, and financial decisions are often made based on gut feeling rather than concrete data.
The founder realized that simply introducing a sophisticated AI-powered accounting system wouldn't automatically solve the problem. Many SME owners were hesitant to entrust their sensitive financial data to a new platform, especially one driven by artificial intelligence. This skepticism stemmed from a lack of understanding of AI, concerns about data security, and a general preference for the familiar, even if inefficient, methods they were already using.
Building trust, therefore, became paramount. This meant focusing on transparency, demonstrating the value of the platform in a clear and understandable way, and providing personalized support to help SME owners navigate the system. It also involved understanding the unique cultural nuances and business practices of the region. The success of ccMonet.ai hinges not only on its ability to automate accounting processes but also on its ability to foster a sense of confidence and control among its users. The lesson learned is clear: in the realm of AI-powered finance for SMEs, technology is only half the battle; the other half is building unshakeable trust.
However, the journey hasn't been just about deploying cutting-edge technology. The founder of ccMonet.ai discovered that building trust is just as, if not more, crucial than the technological solutions themselves. In Southeast Asia, the financial landscape for SMEs is often characterized by informality. Many businesses operate without dedicated finance teams, relying on a patchwork of methods to manage their money. Invoices are sent through WhatsApp, expenses are tracked using physical receipts, and financial decisions are often made based on gut feeling rather than concrete data.
The founder realized that simply introducing a sophisticated AI-powered accounting system wouldn't automatically solve the problem. Many SME owners were hesitant to entrust their sensitive financial data to a new platform, especially one driven by artificial intelligence. This skepticism stemmed from a lack of understanding of AI, concerns about data security, and a general preference for the familiar, even if inefficient, methods they were already using.
Building trust, therefore, became paramount. This meant focusing on transparency, demonstrating the value of the platform in a clear and understandable way, and providing personalized support to help SME owners navigate the system. It also involved understanding the unique cultural nuances and business practices of the region. The success of ccMonet.ai hinges not only on its ability to automate accounting processes but also on its ability to foster a sense of confidence and control among its users. The lesson learned is clear: in the realm of AI-powered finance for SMEs, technology is only half the battle; the other half is building unshakeable trust.
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Technology