Practical AI tools for your business
How AI can help with your business day to day.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has come a long way. The term describes machines that can do things that typically require human intelligence. For example, making decisions, recognizing patterns and solving problems.
The best part? You don’t need to be the size of Google to have a use for it.
There are plenty of AI tools out there that can take tasks off your hands, giving you time back to focus on the parts of your business that only you know how to do best. And now’s a great time to get a head start on using them.
Remove the guesswork with insights
Insights are pieces of information you can use to make business decisions that drive growth. What growth looks like for you might be different to what it means for another business owner. Whether it’s increasing your sales, testing new products and services, or expanding your online presence.
To do these things, you’ll need to better understand your customers or clients. And thanks to AI, it’s no longer a guessing game.
With tools like HubSpot’s Customer Platform and Salesforce Einstein, you can get meaningful insights to better understand what your customers or clients are looking for. You can see data on website visits, purchase history, and even social interactions, to build a clear picture of who’s buying from you, or using your services, and why.
Do more in less time
You’re not alone if you find promoting your business exhausting and costly. It's tough to juggle social media, email marketing, and content creation, on your own or between a small team. AI-powered marketing tools can offer relief here.
Take the email marketing platform Mailchimp, for example. Its new AI integration learns from past campaigns, providing a summary of how people are engaging with your emails. Using this overall picture, the tool will suggest how you can do more of what’s working and less of what’s not.
Creativity just got easier
We appreciate that content creation might not be high up on the priorities list when you’re in the throes of establishing your business. It’s a lot of pressure on one person to constantly come up with new content to share with your potential and existing customers.
This is where generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Jasper are lifesavers. Need a catchy social post or blog intro? These tools can create a first draft in seconds. You can then shape it to fit your voice and message.
These AI tools are primarily language-based models, but they don’t just write copy. DALL-E, for example, is an AI art tool that turns ideas into eye-catching visuals, perfect for custom graphics or social media content.
You can get creative and brand your emails using Mailchimp's templates and Canva too. Its ‘design using AI’ feature offers layout and colour suggestions. Your email templates, social media posts and visuals should match your brand. You don’t need a graphic design degree to do this.
Less time buried in spreadsheets
You probably know spreadsheets and accounting well if you're a numbers person. But what about those business owners who prefer customer-facing tasks? AI tools like QuickBooks and Xero can help. They use AI to track cash flow, categorise expenses, and even alert you to patterns you might overlook.
QuickBooks’ predictive tools help manage cash flow. Based on recorded activity, it projects future income and expenses. Xero provides real-time updates on your finances. It lets you keep things in check without sorting through receipts one by one.
A helping hand, not a replacement
One common fear about AI is that it will ‘replace’ people. The reality is far less scary. AI might take over some repetitive tasks. It could also help you fill a skills gap. This means you can achieve things you couldn't before. But it isn’t here to take over completely. The best AI setups still need human input, oversight, and creativity.
Small changes, big impact
AI helps small businesses gain an edge in their industry. It’s no longer up to the big players to make waves. Tools give you more control over your business, helping you grow faster and manage operations better. They make small businesses sharper, faster, and more in tune with their customers and their position in their industry.
Try out one of the tools we’ve shared below, or keep exploring our Future Skills articles to gear up for business growth.
Some handy tools: