Let’s be real, shall we? AI is the elephant in the room, and the small business owner and the independent contractor are the ants. And the ants are about to get squished with this AI invasion…
Well, not really. We just wanted to grab your attention 🙂
It goes without saying that accepting something new can be hard, especially when it is something that may look as if you can jeopardize your work-life well-being. With that being said, let’s discuss the elephant in the room – AI.
First off there are pros and cons to everything that is presented to us. The goal though, is to optimize balance in the new information received.
Let’s start by understanding AI first.
AI (artificial intelligence) is a simulation of human intelligence through machine processes, mainly computer systems. Simply put, AI is an app in which natural language processing, speech recognition, machine vision, and many other components are used to simulate the human mind. This is achieved by inputting large amounts of data into the having that data analyzed for patterns. Those patterns found are used to make predictions about future states.
Don’t get me wrong, there are definitely some pros to AI. It can automate mundane tasks, increase efficiency, and even improve customer experience. But let’s not forget about the cons.
For starters, AI is expensive. And for small business owners and independent contractors, every penny counts.
Plus, AI can be a bit… well, dumb. It’s only as smart as the data it’s fed, which means if you’re feeding it biased data, you’re going to get biased results.
And if you think you can just sit back and let AI do all the work, think again. AI still needs to be monitored and maintained, and if you don’t know what you’re doing, you could end up with a big ol’ mess on your hands.
So, what can small business owners and independent contractors do to prep for the AI invasion?
For starters, educate yourself. Read up on AI and how it’s being used in your industry. Talk to other business owners and contractors and see how they’re using AI. And if you’re feeling really adventurous, take an AI course or attend an AI workshop.
Next, start small. Don’t try to automate your entire business all at once. Start with one task or process and see how it goes. And if you’re not sure where to start, try automating something that’s been bugging you for a while. Maybe it’s scheduling appointments or sending out invoices. Whatever it is, start there.
Finally, don’t forget about the human touch. AI may be great at automating tasks, but it can’t replace the personal touch that comes with human interaction. So, don’t be afraid to pick up the phone or meet with clients in person. Show them that you’re more than just a robot.
Yes, those thoughts are real for everyone in business, but let’s see how you can use this information for your business’s benefit, mainly in terms of growth and improved customer experience. Imagine you’re able to read customer’s minds and get an honest opinion about your business, be it the product or service you provide, interactions with your staff, or even the vibe they feel about your business. I’m guessing every business owner would jump at the opportunity and well, that is exactly what AI can help you achieve.
How do you ask? Let’s go ahead and look at a few examples.
Improved Customer Experience – there are a few ways this can be done.
Chatbot
Almost every website people visit now has a chatbot. A chatbot is the most common form of AI. The chatbot will either ask specific questions or give specific options based on data collected from previous or existing customers. With the answers given, it may either help solve a problem or direct the query to the correct company representatives.
If a customer’s question has not been correctly attended to, that query will then be added to the data to be collected and analyzed and can give business owners further insight into how customers feel. If a customer’s query has been attended to correctly then customers will receive the assistance they need in a timeout manner without having to go through different representatives explaining the same query over and over.
Analyzing Customer Satisfaction
This is emotion AI and is a tactic that can be used to gauge how a customer feels about your business. This can be achieved by using AI to scan through social media post reviews where your business’s name is mentioned. This has the same outcome as a survey or focus group would have but by using AI, you can make necessary changes quicker and cheaper.
Business Growth
It’s common knowledge that older methods of advertising are being taken over by the world of technology. Using AI to help increase business and work towards growth can be achieved easily.
Offering Product Recommendations
AI can use the information received when customers browse your website and search for products. With the information and data collected, you will be able to offer that customer more of what they were searching for. It will also give you an insight into which products or services are in demand or give you the ability to see what products or services need to be included.
Lead Generation
Similarly, using AI on social media will allow you to advertise your business based on searches for similar products or services. This allows you to reach a wider audience than your followers as well as make sure your business is directed to your target market.
While AI can be a scary tactic to consider, it certainly has its benefits and, if used correctly, can serve to be your business’ best friend.
In conclusion, AI is the elephant in the room, but it doesn’t have to be the end of the world. Educate yourself, start small, and don’t forget about the human touch. And who knows, maybe one day we’ll all be ants riding on the back of an AI elephant. Hey, a girl can dream.
We’d love to hear your experience with using AI for your business.
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Disclaimer: This resource is for information purposes only. The company is not directly related to The Dope Million in any way. Always check your resources’ original website for updated information.