5 ways small businesses can use AI

If you have a small business, you’ve likely poured your heart and soul into ensuring its success. You’re also undoubtedly busy with bookkeeping, scheduling, managing your employees, or keeping track of inventory. That’s where AI tools come in. They have the ability to transform your work life, especially when it comes to taking care of the more repetitive or tedious tasks. Learn how you can improve your small business with AI tools that can be easily implemented and tailored to your needs.

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What does AI in small business entail?

By taking care of automated processes and easily programmable tasks, AI tools can enhance the customer experience in multiple ways. Not only can these tools free up time for you to pay attention to your customers and clients, but they can also streamline supply chain management, budgeting, and employee shifts so your business run smoothly and efficiently. Here are ways to use AI in your small business operations:

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Customer service

Use an AI chatbot to respond to your customers by determining exactly what they need assistance with. For example, chatbots can speak to your customers in natural-sounding language, and then filter their queries into categories such as returns, shipping, or product availability. That way, when these chatbots transfer your customers’ requests to a human responder, both parties will have a better idea of how to help find what they need.

Automating accounting

Use AI to set a budget for your payroll, inventory, expenses, and profit tracking. AI can track your accounts payable and receivable to see how your business is doing in real time, as well as determining irregularities to find out where you can save money or find opportunities. In addition, financial AI tools can also identify possible signs of fraud or illegal activity, so you can avoid potential scams.

Marketing emails and blasts

If your small business has a website or does the majority of its business online, programmable AI tools can analyze the metrics of what’s popular and what your customers are interested in. After you receive the trending data, use generative AI tools to write emails that promote your latest products, showcase upcoming sales, and help you take advantage of popular fads without being caught short. You can also use AI for graphic design tips or to create advertisements for your small business.

Scheduling employee timesheets

If you hire employees for your small business, they may request sick or vacation days that require flexibility in their scheduling. Allow AI to keep track of your employees’ availabilities, how many hours they’re able to work, and available shifts that they can take in case an emergency happens to a scheduled employee. Once AI generates a schedule, analyze it and listen to employee feedback to fine-tune these shifts—ensuring that both your employees are satisfied and can deliver better attention to customers.

Managing inventory

Inventory is vital to small businesses that focus on retail or foodservice. By tracking the estimated deliveries of incoming shipments, AI is vital to you ensuring that you don’t run out of popular items or that the right amount of food comes in without generating waste. Many popular AI tools also offer predictive analytics that can forecast future demand based on a combination of historical data, seasonal trends and other market factors, thereby helping you efficiently manage your business’s supply chain.

With these useful tools at your disposal, everyday AI can enhance your day-to-day routine in both business life and your personal life.