AI for Real Businesses
Forget the hype about AI replacing workers or revolutionizing everything overnight. Here's what AI can actually do for small businesses right now.
Customer Support Automation
AI chatbots have gotten remarkably good at handling common questions. A well-trained chatbot can:
- Answer FAQs 24/7
- Collect basic information before human handoff
- Route requests to the right person
- Free your team for complex issues
Document Processing
AI can extract information from documents, invoices, and forms automatically. This means:
- Less manual data entry
- Faster processing times
- Fewer errors
Content Assistance
AI can help with drafting emails, social media posts, and basic content. It won't replace your voice, but it can speed up the first draft.
What AI Can't Do (Yet)
- Replace human judgment for important decisions
- Understand context as well as your team does
- Handle truly novel situations without oversight
Getting Started
The best approach is to start small:
1. Identify repetitive tasks that follow patterns
2. Test AI tools on low-stakes processes first
3. Keep humans in the loop for quality control
4. Measure time saved vs. investment
Custom AI Solutions
Off-the-shelf AI tools work for generic needs, but custom AI solutions trained on your specific data and processes can be even more powerful. A chatbot trained on your product catalog will outperform a generic one every time.