Artificial Intelligence (AI) may be transforming every industry, but for Small and Mid-Sized businesses (SMBs), the journey from data to decisions can still feel out of reach. Limited resources, time, and expertise often stand in the way of realizing AI’s full potential.
That’s where SAS, a global leader in data and AI, comes in. In the latest episode of The High-Growth Equation, Lawrence Roberts speaks with Susan Duchesneau, VP of Global Channel Sales at SAS, about how SMBs can start their AI journey with speed, confidence, and measurable results.
Episode Highlights:
- From Data to Decisions (00:08)
- The SMB Challenge: Doing More with Less (02:07)
- Real Results, Real Impact (05:10)
- How SAS Viya Amplifies Partner Value (07:14)
- Making IT Personal (08:19)
From Data to Decisions
For nearly 50 years, SAS has helped organizations turn analytics into action. Its cloud-native platform, SAS® Viya, simplifies AI deployment by giving businesses of all sizes access to powerful analytics tools that deliver rapid time to value.
“At SAS, we know SMBs are incredibly smart and focused on impact,” says Susan. “They don’t have time or budget for science projects. They need outcomes that move the needle fast.”
Through Destination AI™, TD SYNNEX’s global framework designed to help partners explore, adopt, and scale AI with confidence, TD SYNNEX and SAS are helping partners guide customers through every step, from identifying use cases to scaling analytics capabilities, so AI becomes a business accelerator, not a technical hurdle.
The SMB Challenge: Doing More with Less
SMBs account for 90% of businesses globally and nearly half of all jobs, yet many lack dedicated IT or analytics teams. With 85% of AI projects failing due to poor data quality or unclear goals, SMBs can’t afford missteps.
That’s why, Susan notes, the first question many SMB leaders ask is simple: “How do we get started?”
By combining analytics, data and AI expertise from SAS with TD SYNNEX’s partner ecosystem, businesses gain a proven path from experimentation to execution, one that aligns data insights directly to business outcomes.
Real Results, Real Impact
The proof is in the results.
Take Boddie-Noell, for example, the largest Hardee’s franchise operator in the U.S. Working with SAS and partner First Analytics, the company discovered that extending breakfast hours by just one hour could increase revenue, and it did, across every location.
This example show how data-driven insights aren’t just optimizing operations, they’re transforming industries.
How SAS Viya Amplifies Partner Value
For TD SYNNEX partners already selling cloud infrastructure or analytics, SAS Viya complements existing portfolios perfectly, as it’s able to scale with organizations regardless of where they are in their AI journey.. As customers expand their use of AI and data, they naturally demand more compute, storage, and networking resources, creating a multiplier effect for partner growth.
“SAS drives demand for the broader ecosystem,” Susan explains. “As organizations mature in their analytics journey, they rely more on cloud infrastructure and advanced computing, which is where our partners shine.”
Making IT Personal
For Susan, AI isn’t just about technology, it’s about people.
“The reason I’ve stayed at SAS so long is because it’s personal,” she shares. “When partners and customers tell me SAS changed their careers, that’s what drives me. We’re helping people deliver more value, and that’s what this partnership is all about.”
Through collaboration, enablement, and shared innovation, SAS and TD SYNNEX are making IT personal, empowering partners to help customers unlock the value of their data and create lasting business impact.
Where Partners Turn Insight into Action
From predictive analytics to supply chain optimization, SAS and TD SYNNEX Destination AI™ are helping partners bring AI to life for their customers, simply, securely, and at scale.
Stay connected with TD SYNNEX on LinkedIn, Instagram, and visit our Newsroom for more insights from The High-Growth Equation, your source for strategies that fuel innovation and accelerate partner success.
