PENANG, August 6, 2026 — The SAMENTA Hyperlokal SME AI Fest drew a full house at Digital Penang on August 5, bringing together SME owners, entrepreneurs, and digital practitioners for an afternoon of practical learning focused on artificial intelligence, search marketing, and customer relationship management.
Held under the theme “Accelerate Sales Growth with AI & CRM Automation,” the workshop demonstrated how Malaysian businesses can utilize accessible technology to enhance online visibility, manage prospects, and convert more enquiries into revenue. It formed part of SAMENTA’s 50-City Hyperlokal AI Fest, a nationwide initiative bringing business-ready AI knowledge directly to local SME communities.
High SME Demand for Practical Agentic AI Knowledge
The turnout reflected the growing urgency among SMEs to understand how AI can address commercial challenges. Many smaller businesses still depend on manual follow-ups, disconnected messages, and spreadsheets to manage prospective customers. These methods become increasingly difficult to maintain as enquiry volumes and customer expectations rise.
The programme connected two essential parts of the sales journey: helping customers discover a business and ensuring every enquiry receives structured follow-up. Participants learned how AI-powered search, effective websites, and CRM automation can work together as a unified, practical growth system, rather than as separate technologies.
SAMENTA Northern Region Chairman Calvin Kwan opened the programme with an inspiring address, reinforcing the association’s commitment to SME digitalisation.
Dr Henry Tye Highlights AI SEO and How the Agentic Trend is Reshaping Search and Website Creation.
Dr Henry Tye, Founder and CEO of BigDomain, shared how AI SEO and Agentic AI are reshaping search, website development, and customer engagement. He explained that successful websites will increasingly depend on high-quality information, structured data, and fast performance—not cosmetic design alone.
As consumers turn to AI to research products and compare providers, SMEs must publish clear, trustworthy content that AI systems can understand and recommend. Instead of using AI only to automate traditional SEO, businesses should strengthen their digital authority, answer customer questions, and maintain consistent brand information across online channels.
Dr Tye also demonstrated how SMEs can build an Agentic AI chatbot using the WhatsApp Business API without spending thousands of ringgit annually. Such an agent can answer enquiries, provide relevant information, and guide customers through part of the decision-making process, helping smaller businesses improve response times while reserving human support for more complex needs.
Opportunities for SME to Turn More Leads into Revenue
Alain Lye, CEO of RakanSales, delivered a complementary session on using AI and CRM automation to turn leads into revenue. His presentation addressed a common problem among SMEs: attracting enquiries but losing opportunities because of slow responses, inconsistent follow-ups, or poorly organised customer information.
The session explored how businesses can capture enquiries from multiple channels, identify high-potential prospects, and automate timely follow-ups. These capabilities can help prevent leads from being overlooked while giving sales teams a clearer view of their pipeline.
SMEs can begin with one measurable problem, such as reducing response time, organising leads, or improving follow-up consistency. They can introduce an appropriate tool, monitor the results, and expand gradually, avoiding unnecessary investment in technology without a defined purpose.
Bringing Business-Ready AI Closer to SMEs
Through its hyperlocal format, SAMENTA is making AI education more accessible to SMEs in cities and industrial communities across Malaysia. Hosting the programme at Digital Penang also connected participants with Penang’s growing technology and innovation ecosystem.
The full-house response demonstrated that local businesses are ready to move beyond general AI awareness towards practical implementation. The event’s message was clear: digital transformation does not need to begin with a costly or complicated project.
SMEs can start by improving their online information, organising customer enquiries, and automating one repetitive process. These manageable steps can build a stronger foundation for productivity, customer experience, and sustainable growth in an increasingly AI-driven economy.
