Google Cloud targets Indian SMBs with AI tools to automate routine tasks

Empowering the backbone of India's economy

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) serve as a critical pillar for the Indian economy. These companies currently contribute nearly one-third of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP) and generate more than 35 per cent of its total manufacturing output. Because of this scale, improving their productivity is a major priority for technology providers.

Google Cloud recently hosted Cloud Day India 2026 in New Delhi to address these specific needs. The event gathered more than 600 business and technology leaders to discuss how artificial intelligence can support growth. The primary goal was to show how SMBs can compete with larger entities by adopting smarter technology.

Taru Dahiya, Managing Director of JAPAC SMB & Scaled Services at Google Cloud, noted that the most successful businesses are not necessarily those with the largest IT budgets. Instead, she observed that the leaders are those turning AI into a continuous engine for growth. This shift is particularly visible among India's small and mid-sized business sectors.

Overcoming barriers to AI adoption

Many small businesses struggle to adopt new technology because of existing hurdles. These challenges often include scattered data across different systems, outdated hardware, and a lack of clarity regarding the actual return on investment. For many owners, the idea of hiring a large technology team to manage AI feels like an impossible expense.

Google Cloud aims to solve these problems by offering tools that do not require heavy upfront investments. The company showcased how its cloud infrastructure in Mumbai and Delhi-NCR provides local security and reliability. By using these services, businesses can simplify their operations and make better decisions based on analyzed information.

A key part of this strategy is ensuring data privacy for these smaller players. Google Cloud stated that customer data is not used to train its foundation models. This allows businesses to experiment with AI tools while maintaining control over their proprietary information and sensitive records.

Practical applications and automation

The demonstration featured several practical ways that AI can handle repetitive manual work. For example, AI agents can be used for defect inspection in manufacturing or the reconciliation of e-way bills. They can also assist in matching vendor invoices, which reduces the time employees spend on manual data entry.

For office-based tasks, Gemini tools integrated with Workspace can help staff draft professional proposals and summarize long customer conversations. These features are designed to help employees complete routine tasks more quickly. The goal is to eliminate operational drag so that companies can reinvest their time into innovation.

The company also highlighted no-code AI agents as a significant resource for non-technical users. These tools allow businesses to build automated workflows tailored to their specific operational needs without writing software. This democratization of technology allows a business owner to create custom solutions for their unique daily challenges.

Partnerships and infrastructure scale

To ensure these tools are actually used effectively, Google Cloud is leaning on a network of local partners. These partners provide essential implementation support, training, and managed services to help Indian businesses transition to AI. They act as a bridge between the complex technology and the practical needs of a local shop or factory.

These partners also help connect common business applications, such as Tally and SAP, with BigQuery. BigQuery is Google's data analytics platform, and connecting it to existing software allows for more data-driven decision-making. This integration helps move data from isolated silos into a unified system where it can be analyzed by AI.

This local support is backed by a massive infrastructure commitment from Google. The company announced a USD 15 billion commitment to India's digital and AI infrastructure. This investment is intended to expand AI capabilities across the country and support the broader digital ecosystem for all types of businesses.

Real-world business examples

During the event, several prominent Indian brands were featured to demonstrate how these tools work in practice. Companies like Siyaram's, Neuberg Diagnostics, and Woodland were highlighted as examples of businesses exploring these technologies. These brands represent a variety of industries, from diagnostics to retail and manufacturing.

Other organizations showcased at the event included Bikanervala, Johnson Lifts, and The Printers Mysore. These examples illustrate that the technology is being applied across diverse sectors, from food services to industrial equipment. The variety of participants suggests that AI tools are becoming versatile enough for many different types of commerce.

The event concluded with hands-on sessions and an executive panel featuring industry leaders like Chandu Thota. These sessions focused on the practical application of AI rather than just theoretical concepts. By showing real-world use cases, Google Cloud aims to give SMB owners a clear playbook for integrating AI into their daily operations.