Building the Nation – Coimbatore Chapter: SMB

The industrial city of Coimbatore hosted the latest edition of Building the Nation, organised by CRN India, in association with Dell Technologies and Intel, on September 24, 2025, at Vivanta Coimbatore. The MSME-focused session witnessed the participation of 50+ MSME leaders and highlighted how they can accelerate their growth journey by leveraging cutting-edge technologies, particularly AI and digital solutions.

Praveen Kumar, Director & Founder, Qbic Catalyst Partners Pvt Ltd, welcomed the attendees and set the stage for the discussions, emphasising the importance of digital adoption for MSMEs. He said, "Digital transformation is no longer optional for MSMEs; it is a necessity for growth, scalability, and competitiveness in today’s market."

Clint Carvallo, Sales Director – India Small Businesses, Dell Technologies, introduced the Dell AI Factory, highlighting the capabilities it offers. He said, "The Dell AI Factory is a framework that provides organisations with the infrastructure, software, and services needed to build, deploy, and scale AI and GenAI applications. We consult with organisations to go to market with a strategy tailored to their unique needs."

Dell showcased 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. This enables faster execution, stronger privacy, and reduced reliance on connectivity. Features like Microsoft Copilot, AI-driven noise suppression, auto-framing for video calls, and enhanced security are now embedded directly into the PC experience, delivering enterprise-grade benefits to small businesses.

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.

MS Dinesh Kumar, State Business Manager, Intel, provided insights on the scale of MSME activity in Coimbatore and the role of technology in enabling growth. He said, "There are more than 80,000 MSMEs in Coimbatore, with about 12,000 SMEs actively operating in this space. Intel’s solutions empower these enterprises to modernise operations, enhance productivity, and unlock new growth opportunities."

The discussions underlined how Dell Technologies and Intel are bringing enterprise-grade innovation to MSMEs, empowering them with scalable solutions to remain competitive and future-ready.