{"id":2841,"date":"2022-01-04T21:06:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-04T21:06:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/?p=2841"},"modified":"2024-04-04T14:08:31","modified_gmt":"2024-04-04T14:08:31","slug":"ai-for-small-businesses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/eu\/blog\/ai-for-small-businesses\/","title":{"rendered":"Why You Should Transform Your Small Business With AI"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

AI for small businesses has become an increasingly hot topic in the new climate. As SMEs move more of their operations online and introduce new technologies to empower decentralised workforces, they have a lot on their plate. But by enabling SMEs to automate processes and become more customer-centric, AI can help do some of the heavy lifting. AI can also help SMEs leverage analytics<\/a> to make smarter, data-backed decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s take a look at what exactly AI is, as well as how AI for small businesses can be a game-changer for SMEs<\/a> in the current climate and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Discover the tools for success with a CRM for Small Business<\/span><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Find, gain, and keep customers with solutions for sales, marketing, and customer service – all tailored for small businesses just like yours.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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What is AI?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

AI, or Artificial Intelligence<\/a>, refers to the creation of machines or systems that can perform tasks that once required human intelligence. The idea of artificial intelligence has been around for over 70 years. Alan Turing wrote a paper<\/a> on creating intelligent machines in 1950, and the Logic Theorist program<\/a> \u2013 the \u201cfirst artificial intelligence program\u201d was developed in 1956.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, AI powers everything from smart cars and autopilot features on commercial flights to chatbots and voice assistants on mobile phones. AI also promises to radically reimagine the future, with game-changing implications for medicine<\/a>, financial services, the battle against disinformation and more. In fact, a PwC report<\/a> shows that AI could result in a 14% boost in global GDP in 2030. And while the long-term impact of AI will be seismic, it\u2019s already driving change and empowering small businesses<\/a> to do more with less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Top 5 benefits of AI for small business<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

AI-powered communities, smart vehicles and robotic surgeons may be the norm one day. But for small businesses, the future is now. AI is already helping small businesses free up their workforces, optimise their supply chains, improve their marketing<\/a> and better serve their customers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are just some of the transformative benefits that AI for small business can provide your growing business:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Increased productivity through automated processes.<\/b> By leveraging AI to automate routine, mundane work, SMEs can free their workforce to concentrate on more business-critical tasks. In other words, sales and service reps can focus on their customer, rather than productivity-killing admin.<\/span> <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Productivity gains through an augmented workforce.<\/b> PwC report predicts that labour productivity improvements are expected to account for over 55% of GDP gains from AI between 2017 \u2013 2030. And <\/span>over a third<\/a> of large, global organisations are already supporting their customer service teams with AI. This creates an imperative for SMEs, who need to offer the same level of service as their larger counterparts.<\/span> <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Better customer service.<\/b> It\u2019s not just big international firms that are turning to AI to turbocharge service; SMEs are empowering their teams as well. AI not only helps <\/span>bring reps closer to their customers<\/a>, but it can also help SMEs deliver personalised experiences at scale.<\/span> <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Better opportunities for upselling and cross-selling.<\/b> Upselling and cross-selling are key for SMEs looking to drive revenue. AI can predict cross-sell and upsell opportunities and surface the right recommendations to customers at the right moment.<\/span> <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Improved logistics and smarter supply chains.<\/b> Supply-chain difficulties are creating challenges worldwide, but the <\/span>AI supply-chain revolution<\/a> promises new ways to manage the supply chain. AI can analyse volumes of data, provide end-to-end visibility and support better decision-making.<\/span> <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    How today\u2019s small businesses are using AI<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    While popular culture and dystopian sci-fi may often portray artificial intelligence as a tool for displacing humans, the truth is that AI is being used to empower them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    From automating repetitive tasks to providing sales reps and service agents with actionable information in real time, AI for small businesses can help people do their jobs more efficiently<\/a>. In turn, the workforce can spend their time on work that prioritises creativity and deep thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here are a few ways that SMEs are using AI for small businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n