The AI and automation movement has created many exciting opportunities for all industries by being able to increase levels of productivity and efficiency. AI’s ability to process mountains of complex data at lightning speed is a powerful new engine for businesses. Firms that have already integrated this technology effectively are racing ahead. It’s time for others to catch up – or be left behind.
While large corporations are working on game-changing projects, such as self-driving cars and miracle medical cures, the smaller businesses are reaping the benefits of AI and automation at a more micro level. For SMEs, the main benefits of the technology include its ability to:
• complete time-consuming, repetitive tasks
• provide efficient customer service
• improve communication amongst employees
Recruitment
AI and automation can bear the responsibility of time-consuming activities such as manually screening resumes. These technologies are more efficient in sifting through piles of job applications, as well as correctly aligning the skills of potential candidates to the relevant vacancies.
SmartRecruiters and Zoho are just a couple of the well-known systems used to prioritize applications based on keywords such as skillset, number of years of experience, etc. The integration of this technology can help reduce bias and free up more time for managers to interview candidates.
Email Marketing
Email marketing is a powerful tool for reaching out to new and existing customers. Having an automated system allows you to send personalized emails at specific times in a bid to capture engagement. MailChimp is a popular choice for automated emails as it has a number of functions that can be integrated with other platforms.
Relying on automated systems means that time and resources can be invested elsewhere. As a result, these technological advances have changed the face of direct mail and email marketing and are now playing an integral role in most business marketing strategies.
Team Management
The nature of management has changed thanks to the emergence of platforms such as Asana. It gives managers the freedom to manage teams in remote locations by creating automated reminders for any upcoming deadlines.
Another great tool is Slack. It’s become the preferred method of communication in many businesses, replacing traditional email due to its automated features. By using a special bot, this platform is able to reach out to every team member through private messages, that can also be shared with the team as a whole. This reduces the need for traditional time-consuming meetings since all employees are able to view important documents and reports simultaneously, whilst also providing their own input.
Customer Service
Chatbots are useful tools for businesses as they can take over repetitive tasks such as dealing with multiple customer inquiries. They are essentially pre-programmed automated bots that typically serve as the front-line of communication for customers, in which they are capable of answering customer queries.
But that’s not all. An AI bot built with machine learning to understand language has the ability to self-learn and get smarter, and as a consequence become more efficient and competent in handling complex questions. The healthcare industry has seen examples of its level of sophistication by prompting patients to take their medication. Chatbots can also be used for booking flights and, asking for recommendations, and even ordering food – this is where large companies such as Starbucks and Pizza Hut are leading the way.
To conclude, what’s the running theme here? Time being saved. For SMEs, time is one of the most valuable currencies in helping to achieve growth. By using this technology effectively, SMEs will be able to free up more time from not having to complete menial but important tasks and focus more attention to areas of greater complexity. Check out the infographic below for more.
About the author: Asavin Wattanajantra is Sage’s dedicated expert in issues that impact large corporations worldwide. He has spent over ten years working as a digital B2B and content marketing strategist, copywriter, community manager, account manager, and journalist. His expertise lies within topics relating to industry 4.0, digital transformation and cloud innovation.
