Building the Nation – Surat Chapter: SMB

Surat, the diamond city, played host to the latest edition of Building the Nation, organised by CRN India in association with Dell Technologies and Intel, on September 11, 2025, at Hilton Garden Inn. The MSME-focused session, attended by over 35 delegates representing small and medium businesses and MSMEs, explored how technology is becoming the bedrock of India’s economic rise.

Welcoming the audience, Praveen Kumar, Director & Founder, Qbic Catalyst Partners Pvt Ltd, set the tone by connecting India’s economic growth to the contribution of MSMEs. “India’s GDP today is approximately $4.4 trillion…With over 6.5 crore registered enterprises in India, and around 25 to 34 lakh in Gujarat alone, MSMEs contribute nearly 30% to our GDP,” he said, emphasising the scale and opportunity.

Kumar underlined Dell’s philosophy of customer-centricity. “Technology is good, but for us, it always begins with the customer. Every innovation, from R&D to services, is designed around customer needs. And we don’t just produce intelligent products; we make them reliable, secure, and manageable through their lifecycle,” he added.

Keval Trivedi from Dell Technologies took the conversation forward, urging MSMEs to think beyond mere configurations like processors and RAM when evaluating IT. “Every PC has a lifecycle of four to five years. During this time, it must remain secure, manageable, and productive. Dell ensures a minimum level of security and manageability with every device. Our focus is to make sure that MSMEs can reduce downtime, save costs, and improve efficiency,” he said. He also highlighted how Dell’s tools and services simplify updates, firmware management, and driver upgrades, often overlooked challenges for small businesses.

Dell also spotlighted its newly launched AI-powered PC portfolio, i.e., Dell, Dell Pro, and Dell Pro Max, designed with built-in NPUs (Neural Processing Units) to handle AI workloads directly on the device. These next-generation PCs enable faster, more secure, and energy-efficient execution of tasks like transcription, content creation, and data analysis without always relying on the cloud. Positioned as a game-changer for MSMEs, the AI PCs combine enterprise-grade performance with user-friendly design, helping businesses improve productivity, strengthen data privacy, and reduce operational costs while staying future-ready.

Also the highlight was the new Dell Pro Essential series, which is business-ready and affordable, starting at ₹31,999. It is designed for everyday business needs. Despite its affordability, Essentials doesn’t compromise on performance. It offers robust security, Full HD+ displays with a 16:10 aspect ratio, up to 10 hours of battery life, and MIL-STD-810G military-grade durability, ideal for the Gen Z workforce and SMEs alike. Plus, it supports open standards, ensuring compatibility with all peripherals, monitors, headsets, and more.

Bringing in the AI perspective, Sushil Lavania from Intel described how AI is reshaping work across industries and why MSMEs cannot afford to ignore it. “This is the biggest shift in personal computing in 20 years. With Intel Core Ultra processors and NPUs, we are enabling AI PCs that can run AI workloads locally. Whether it is transcription of meetings, advanced data analysis, or design simulations, AI can now happen right on your system faster, safer, and more efficiently than relying only on the cloud,” he said. Lavania explained how this shift allows MSMEs to access enterprise-level capabilities at an affordable scale.

The session also resonated with the local ecosystem as well where Dr Vandana Shah, Chairperson of AI & Robotics, SGCCI, highlighted Surat’s readiness for digital adoption. “Surat has always been a city of entrepreneurs in textiles, diamonds, and now technology. MSMEs here have the potential to embrace AI, digital twins, and modern IT infrastructure to not only stay competitive but also to lead in India’s trillion-dollar digital economy vision,” she said.

The discussion went deeper into practical examples. For many small businesses, adopting a laptop is no longer just about productivity, it’s about being able to file GST, raise invoices, or comply with tax regulations digitally. Speakers pointed out how even basic digitalisation can transform operations. Dell and Intel also showcased sustainability efforts, from recycled packaging to eco-friendly backpacks, demonstrating how innovation can align with environmental responsibility.

The session ended on an interactive note, with MSME owners raising concerns around cost, security, and the challenge of keeping pace with new technologies. The panel responded by urging them to focus on use cases and business outcomes rather than upfront costs. “If the conversation moves beyond configuration and into real-world value, MSMEs will find that technology is not a cost but an investment,” noted Kumar, in conclusion.

For Surat’s MSME community, the session was more than a knowledge exchange, it was a reminder that they are not just participants but critical drivers in India’s digital growth journey, supported by technology partners like Dell Technologies and Intel.