In this exclusive interview with CanadianSME Small Business Magazine, Taimoor Nawab, CEO of Averian, shares his hands-on approach to making AI technology accessible and practical for small and medium-sized businesses. With a global team of engineers and a focus on real-world applications, Taimoor emphasizes the importance of solving specific business problems with scalable AI solutions rather than chasing hype. He discusses how Averian helps clients across industries enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and boost productivity by embedding AI into daily operations. Offering valuable advice on partnering effectively and prioritizing impact, Taimoor provides a roadmap for SMBs ready to innovate confidently in today’s fast-paced tech landscape.
Taimoor Nawab is the CEO of Averian, a global provider of AI-powered solutions and software development services. Taimoor brings deep experience in scaling technology businesses into profitable, sustainable organizations with a focus on delivering complex, real-world product solutions. As a practical technologist, he’s passionate about applying AI where it counts, solving hard problems and helping companies turn innovation into measurable impact.
Averian has established itself as a global leader in delivering AI and software solutions across a variety of industries. What unique challenges do small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) face when adopting AI, and how does Averian tailor its approach to help them overcome these hurdles?
One of the biggest challenges SMBs face is that AI often feels like a buzzword. Most small businesses don’t need research; they need a solution that works. At Averian, that’s our goal. We focus on embedding AI into real workflows—whether it’s automating quality checks, improving customer support, or analyzing data to boost efficiency.
We focus on being practical. Our domain expertise, and knowledge of tools already available, means we don’t necessarily have to start from scratch every time. That allows us to move faster, reduce cost, and focus on real ROI. For SMBs, it’s not about having the most complex solution—it’s about solving a specific problem in a reliable, scalable way.
With over 100 engineers spanning North America and Europe, Averian emphasizes both innovation and efficiency. Can you share a recent example where your team’s expertise led to a transformative outcome for an SMB client? What lessons can other businesses draw from this experience?
One example that stands out is a project we delivered for a mid-sized manufacturing client. They needed a visual inspection system to detect defects on their assembly line. Traditional systems were too rigid and expensive, and they didn’t have the in-house AI expertise.
We deployed our AI Validator solution, a tool we developed in-house, to provide real-time anomaly detection. The result was a flexible inspection tool that integrated with their existing systems, cut error rates dramatically, and paid for itself within months.
You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Find a partner who understands your industry, speaks your language, and can bring solutions that can be deployed.
Averian’s offerings range from embedded systems to manufacturing solutions and intelligent applications. Which emerging technology do you believe holds the greatest potential for SMBs in the next few years, and why?
AI is no longer just for big tech firms, it’s becoming essential for businesses of every size, especially for SMBs. For SMBs, the biggest opportunity lies in applying AI to improve execution, not replace what they currently have – It’s sometimes a misconception.
Whether it’s using machine learning to spot quality issues, analyzing data to make faster decisions, or automating repetitive tasks, AI can improve your execution in almost every area.
What’s exciting is how accessible it is now. You don’t need to build models from scratch or hire a research team. You just need to be clear on the problem you want to solve. 80% of the challenge is how to develop a solution to leverage AI and solve the problem at hand.
Finally, what message or piece of advice would you like to share with CanadianSME readers who are striving to innovate and grow their businesses in today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape?
Innovation doesn’t have to mean a complete transformation on day one. The most successful projects we’ve seen begin with a focused challenge and grow from there. Many of our larger projects started of as small engagements where we built trust, solved a real problem, and then grew our collaboration together.
Secondly, Focus on impact. Ask yourself: Will this solve a problem my team has today? If the answer is yes, then the tech, whether it’s AI, automation, or something else, becomes a tool.
Lastly, work with partners who listen. That’s a big one. Too many companies are selling “solutions” before understanding the problem. At Averian, we work hard to be the opposite of that.
As we look towards 2025 and beyond, what advice would you offer Canadian SMBs considering adopting AI technologies or outsourcing projects to enhance their competitiveness?
AI adoption isn’t an all-or-nothing decision. The most competitive SMBs we see are the ones willing to move fast on small, well-scoped initiatives that solve real problems.
When it comes to AI, focus on practical use cases that can impact your bottom line. Things like automating manual reviews, optimizing logistics, helping your staff with predictive analytics, or improving customer experience with smarter insights.
As for outsourcing, it’s not just about cost-saving. It’s about accessing the right expertise quickly. At Averian, our clients count on us to bring deep domain knowledge, move fast, and augment their internal teams where it makes sense. The right partner should feel like an extension of your business, not a handoff.
