Artificial intelligence (AI) is sweeping the technology industry, making it easier for workers to complete jobs better and faster than they ever could before. Only about 7 percent of organizations are not currently using AI, and even those are considering the technology. In fact, you may be unaware of many applications that use AI. Some common apps using AI include marketing automation software, CRM and sales automation, and cybersecurity tools.
Just about all applications can benefit from AI, and companies are applying it on a large scale. However, your company may be missing out on some benefits of AI that you may not have thought about yet. To make your development process simpler, we’ve put together a list of six applications that should include AI.
Determine which applications need AI
- Benefits of AI
- Where should you be using AI?
- Marketing automation software
- Video conferencing software
- Cybersecurity software
- Scheduling software
- Inventory management software
- Sales automation/CRM
- Adding AI where it will make the biggest impact
Benefits of AI
Many businesses want to add artificial intelligence to their applications because they want the automation and better decision-making processes that AI offers. Automation leads to higher productivity and efficiency among employees by reducing the amount of time they have to spend on tedious processes. This also provides employees with more time to work on innovative projects that improve the business.
AI can analyze data much faster than a human, allowing businesses to reach deeper insights more quickly. With these insights, companies can see where they’re performing well and areas where they might be struggling. They can then make more informed decisions about the future of their business.
Thanks to low-code technology, AI is easier for developers to implement than ever before. Low-code platforms have reduced the time it takes to develop applications and reduced the amount of code needed to add artificial intelligence to them. Because of this, businesses can reap the benefits of AI more quickly and with fewer resources.
Also read: Low-Code Application Platforms: How Easy to Use Are They?
Where should you be using AI?
Artificial intelligence has a lot to offer in a variety of applications. Here are a few that you should consider adding AI to.
Marketing automation software
Automation is in the name, so it might seem obvious where AI would fit in here. However, AI in marketing automation software goes deeper than just automating when messages are sent. Using AI, marketing automation software like ActiveCampaign can also improve your targeting practices, sending branded messages when and where customers are most likely to engage with them and tailoring the messages to the specific audience.
For example, an ecommerce website might use marketing automation software to display ads for products the consumer has recently viewed or products similar to something they’ve purchased. The AI in marketing automation software will also take into account the potential customer’s demographic and display branded messaging that closely aligns with that audience.
Video conferencing software
Video conferencing software is pretty straightforward, why would it possibly need AI? For one thing, it can make your workplace more accessible. Consider the employees you have that might be deaf or hard of hearing. Incorporating AI into your video conferencing tools could provide them with automated captioning.
Even if you don’t have employees with hearing disabilities, automated transcripts from video conferencing software like Zoom could be helpful for employees who have to miss meetings for any reason, allowing them to see exactly what they missed. This feature can reduce the amount of time they spend playing catch-up because they have a complete, word-for-word account of what happened during the meeting. The transcript also serves as a good reference if the meeting points need to be revisited for any reason. You can read more about video translation since it offers numerous benefits, including improved accessibility, enhanced searchability, and as mentioned above increased comprehension for viewers with different learning preferences or hearing impairments.
Augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR) are also gaining ground in video conferencing applications. Using AI, virtual and augmented reality use cues from user movement to create a more realistic meeting experience. It can automatically adjust the camera based on the user’s position and eliminate background noise to sharpen the speaker’s voice and even improve the video.
Also read: Technology and the Future of Business Travel
Cybersecurity software
Many forms of cybersecurity software now include AI, but because so many of these systems work behind the scenes, you may not think of the ways this AI is helping your company. Artificial intelligence is great for monitoring networks in real-time and identifying anomalies much faster than a human analyst could. Additionally, AI in cybersecurity tools can automate containment processes and scans based on anomalies in the security feeds, allowing your security team to focus their attention on more complicated issues.
Security information and event management (SIEM), endpoint detection and response (EDR), and user and entity behavior analytics (UEBA) are just a few of the cybersecurity products that should include AI. Crowdstrike offers a full endpoint protection platform that includes AI to improve detection, threat hunting, and incident response features.
Also read: Securing Company Data in an Era of Remote Work
Scheduling software
If you make a shift schedule for employees, how long do you think each one takes you on average? An hour? Two? And that’s not including the time you spend redoing it once you remember one of your employees is scheduled for a vacation day. Scheduling software that includes AI can take this tedious process of your plate and automate it to put time back in your day.
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With AI-powered scheduling software like Deputy, your employees can put in their availability, and the software will create a schedule based on that and your needs. The software will also take into account the number of people needed for each shift based on information from your order management system or historical sales data to ensure that you won’t be under or overstaffed.
Inventory management software
Having the correct inventory levels is critical for most businesses because you can’t really sell what you don’t have, or at least won’t soon have. Inventory management software like Brightpearl tracks your inventory levels, but with AI, it can also automatically order new products or raw materials once you dip below certain thresholds. Additionally, if one of your suppliers is experiencing a shortage, the system can source the items from other vendors to ensure you get the inventory when you need it.
AI can also help you anticipate spikes in demand and help you get the inventory you need to meet that demand. By integrating your inventory management system with your CRM and business intelligence software, the AI can highlight buying trends in your industry and help you adjust your inventory thresholds accordingly.
Also read: The End of the Just in Time Supply Chain Method
Sales automation/CRM
Sales automation and CRM software empowered with AI can help you close more sales and improve the relationships you have with your customers. AI-powered lead scoring gives your salespeople a better idea of which prospects they should be targeting. AI can do this by using historical data to identify patterns in sales reports and provide insights on which leads are most likely to lead to sales.
CRM and sales automation software like Salesforce can also include chatbots that run on artificial intelligence, allowing your customers to get the answers they need quickly, without bogging down your sales reps. Clients are happy because they get a fast response, and your sales team can focus on closing more business. These AI chatbots use natural language processing and sentiment analysis to provide nearly-human levels of conversation.
Adding AI where it will make the biggest impact
Artificial intelligence doesn’t have to be added to everything, however. Clearly AI has a lot to offer outside of the ways many companies are currently using it. When deciding which applications you should purchase or outfit with AI for your own organization, first figure out where it will make the biggest impact. If you’re a service-based business, you may not have to worry about your inventory levels, but you might want to invest in marketing automation or scheduling software. Take stock of the software your business already uses and any gaps in your services that artificial intelligence could fill to improve your company the most. And when taking on an AI project, be sure to read our advice for avoiding AI project failure.
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