Arsys: ‘AI is Already Becoming an Integral Part of our Services’

As part of the Arsys Partner Network Sport Tour 2024, we had the opportunity to interview Alberto Blanch, SMB and CSM Product Manager at Arsys, to discuss how AI, data sovereignty and local support are transforming technology solutions for SMEs.

ICT Sector Trends

– What do you think will be the main technology trends in the ICT sector for SMEs in the short term?

AI and cybersecurity are trends that are already transforming the sector. I think one of the most important changes we have seen is the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Although companies often don’t ask for these solutions directly, when they discover them they realise their value and want to incorporate them immediately. AI allows them to automate tasks and focus on their core business. For SMEs, creating a website can be a challenge; from defining what they do to generating the content. AI helps them a lot with this, even if they need to make minor edits later.

For example, at Arsys we are integrating AI in several areas, such as in our WordPress service, where it helps with the structure of the website, choosing plugins, creating the design, texts and images of a website, or in our domain generator and SEO optimisation tools, to name just a few of our AI-integrated solutions. This makes it easier for entrepreneurs to find inspiration for their content and focus on growing their business. AI is already moving from being a ‘novelty’ to being an integral part of the services and is already a feature. Right now we focus on the fact that we want to know how to do a process, and I think the next step is for AI to do the process itself, but it’s going to take more time for this solution to be implemented, but I think it’s the perfect step in the evolution.

Most demanded services

– What are the most demanded services by SMEs today?

Today, SMEs are looking for more flexibility and ease in managing their own web services. Ten years ago, creating a website required professional help; now there are tools that allow anyone to build their own website, even with AI support. At Arsys we offer services such as WordPress with AI and other applications to facilitate tasks such as generating QR codes or designing marketing campaigns, adapting to the current demand for all-in-one solutions.

– During your presentation you described that the market was experiencing a rise in domain prices and a slowdown in the creation of new websites, how does this affect the market and Arsys?

We observe a stagnation in the domain market. Current growth depends largely on attracting customers from competitors, as the creation of new domains is always closely linked to the creation of new business. Even so, SMEs continue to request additional services for improvement, such as SEO, mail, storage and security applications.

In terms of domain security, it is crucial that businesses take domain renewal seriously. When a domain expires, anyone can register it and potentially access sensitive information or take advantage of the previous company’s image. It’s like leaving your wallet and not cancelling your cards; whoever finds that ‘loophole’ could exploit it. At Arsys, we treat this issue with caution, to raise awareness among our clients and partners, as it is a matter of security and reputation protection.

Data Sovereignty and European Legislation

– With the rise of data sovereignty concerns and new legislation, are you seeing customers returning to European providers?

Yes, although the level of sensitivity varies from country to country. In Spain we still focus more on functionality and close support but there is an increasing sensitivity towards data sovereignty itself. As more news is published about the risks of hosting data abroad, we notice that customers are becoming more aware.

We, as Europeans, have more protectionist regulations on privacy, data protection and citizens’ rights than other socio-economic contexts. EU regulations set very clear guidelines, something that is increasingly appreciated by our customers. Even when a customer uses a data centre in Spain operated by a non-European provider, data may still be subject to the laws of their home country. With us, data is secure within the regulatory framework of the European Union, which is an additional guarantee for our customers.

– How does Arsys’ data centre infrastructure contribute to more efficient and secure solutions for SMEs?

SMEs, in general, do not tend to worry much about the detail of the infrastructure; what they are looking for is that it is secure, in Spain and operates smoothly. For an SME, the data centre is like a ‘black box’; their priority is that their cloud services work well without the need to get into the technical details. The technical complexity is managed by us and the partners who deliver their projects, so customers don’t have to worry about these aspects at all.

Another of the main trends in the ICT sector for SMEs in Spain is a greater sensitivity to sustainability. And, for example, in our data centres in Spain we use renewable energy and have implemented AI-controlled air conditioning systems to improve efficiency since 2018. These issues, along with connectivity (5G, Edge Computing), are marking a roadmap where companies are looking for increasingly integrated and sustainable solutions.

Training and Support

– During the presentations, you also highlighted the importance of training, in terms of security and best practices, how do you support SMEs in learning about these issues?

We have been working on training our customers for years. We conduct webinars that allow direct interaction, where we resolve doubts and share best practices. These materials are recorded and available on our platform and on YouTube. We also have the Arsys Tech Academy, with video tutorials and workshops. It is a way of helping SMEs understand both our tools and risk protection strategies.