New ‘game-changer’ AI search toolkit puts rural Welsh businesses ahead of the curve
New ‘game-changer’ AI search toolkit puts rural Welsh businesses ahead of the curve
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A new digital toolkit developed in Ceredigion is being positioned as a potential game-changer for small businesses in rural Wales, as artificial intelligence reshapes how customers discover local services online.
The SMART Busnes programme, delivered by Antur Cymru Enterprise, is giving Welsh small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) early access to practical tools designed to improve their visibility within AI-generated search results.
The initiative focuses on Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO), an emerging discipline that aims to help businesses appear directly inside AI-written responses rather than relying solely on traditional search rankings.
Supported through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the programme has launched what is believed to be one of Wales’s first practical AEO toolkits, responding to rapid changes in how search engines and digital platforms now surface information.
The toolkit has been spearheaded by Digital Business Advisor Lynne Rees and centres on a new insight framework known as Agentic AEO.
The approach is designed to equip rural and micro-businesses with the skills, structures and understanding needed to remain visible as online discovery becomes increasingly dominated by instant, AI-generated answers rather than lists of web links.
Kevin Harrington, Project Manager for SMART Busnes, said the shift in search behaviour represents a fundamental change for smaller firms.
He said: “AI search is here to stay, and our Agentic AEO insight series isn’t a tweak – it’s a reset.
“It’s about helping Welsh SMEs show up wherever customers search: on Google, on social media, even within AI answers. This work gives our rural businesses the same digital advantage that large brands pay thousands for.”
AI-driven tools such as Google’s Search Generative Experience and platforms including ChatGPT are already transforming how users seek information, replacing traditional scrolling with direct, conversational responses.
For small businesses, this creates a significant challenge, as content that is not clearly structured for AI interpretation risks being overlooked entirely.
Agentic AEO focuses on improving clarity, structure and user intent across key digital touchpoints, including websites, social media channels and Google Business Profiles.
By presenting information in formats that AI systems can easily process, businesses can increase their chances of being referenced within automated responses, improving both visibility and credibility.
Antur Cymru chief executive Bronwen Raine said the initiative reflects the programme’s broader mission to support adaptation rather than short-term trends.
She said: “SMART Busnes was built to help small businesses adapt to change, not chase it.
“The Agentic AEO insight series shows how Shared Prosperity Fund investment is driving genuine innovation, building confidence, skills and sustainability across local economies.”
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