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Time Business News
12-06-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Digital Marketing: Transforming Strategy and Engagement
In recent years, the use of AI in digital marketing has revolutionized the way businesses connect with their audiences. Artificial Intelligence (AI), the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, is now being integrated into marketing strategies to automate processes, analyze big data, and deliver personalized experiences. As digital channels grow more complex, the demand for smarter, more adaptive strategies has brought AI to the forefront of marketing innovation. AI in digital marketing is not just a trend—it's a transformative force. Marketers now rely on AI to craft data-driven strategies that adapt in real-time. AI algorithms can analyze customer behaviors, preferences, and feedback across multiple touchpoints. This enables businesses to fine-tune their campaigns for better performance, increase ROI, and reduce human error. The use of AI in digital marketing strategies enables more precise targeting and informed decision-making. Several AI-powered tools are now indispensable in the marketer's toolkit. These include: Chatbots: Provide instant customer support and automate routine queries. Provide instant customer support and automate routine queries. Predictive Analytics Tools: Forecast customer behaviors based on historical data. Forecast customer behaviors based on historical data. Recommendation Engines: Like those used by Amazon and Netflix, suggest products or content tailored to individual preferences. Like those used by Amazon and Netflix, suggest products or content tailored to individual preferences. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Systems: Enhanced with AI to predict customer needs and automate follow-ups. The use of AI in digital marketing tools increases efficiency, streamlines workflows, and allows marketers to focus on creative and strategic tasks. One of the most powerful benefits of AI in digital marketing is its ability to deliver personalized experiences at scale. AI can track user behavior in real-time and adjust content, recommendations, and messaging based on individual preferences. For instance, AI-driven platforms can serve customized website content or personalized email campaigns, increasing engagement and conversion rates. The use of AI in digital marketing ensures that brands connect with customers on a deeper, more personal level. AI tools like natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning are now being used to assist in content creation and curation. Platforms like Jasper and can generate marketing copy, social media posts, and even blog articles. AI also helps in identifying trending topics, optimizing headlines, and ensuring content aligns with SEO best practices. This automation enhances productivity and allows marketers to maintain a consistent and compelling content strategy. The Use of AI in digital marketing is especially evident in customer service. Chatbots and virtual assistants are now common on websites and social media platforms. These AI-driven tools handle customer inquiries, resolve issues, and even complete transactions without human intervention. By providing 24/7 support, chatbots enhance customer satisfaction and free up human agents to focus on complex queries. This not only improves the customer experience but also reduces operational costs. Predictive analytics uses AI to forecast future consumer behavior based on existing data. Marketers use this to anticipate customer needs, optimize product recommendations, and schedule campaigns for maximum impact. For example, AI can predict which products a customer is likely to buy next or identify churn risks. This proactive approach allows businesses to stay ahead of customer expectations and foster loyalty. Programmatic advertising is a prime example of the use of AI in digital marketing. It automates the buying and placement of ads in real-time, using AI to determine the best audience segments, platforms, and times to display ads. This ensures that ad spend is optimized and returns are maximized. Platforms like Google Ads and Facebook Ads heavily rely on AI algorithms for targeting and bidding. The precision and speed of programmatic advertising would be impossible without AI. Email marketing remains a core digital strategy, and AI has greatly enhanced its effectiveness. AI tools analyze open rates, click-through rates, and customer interactions to determine the best time to send emails, the ideal subject lines, and personalized content. Marketers can automate list segmentation, ensuring that recipients receive content that's relevant to their interests. The use of AI in digital marketing makes email campaigns more targeted, timely, and impactful. Despite its benefits, the use of AI in digital marketing comes with challenges. Data privacy is a major concern, especially with AI systems collecting and analyzing vast amounts of user data. Transparency and accountability are also critical—consumers want to know how their data is being used. Additionally, over-reliance on AI can reduce human creativity and lead to homogenized marketing strategies. Ethical use of AI requires balancing automation with human oversight, ensuring that marketing remains authentic and responsible. The future of AI in digital marketing is promising and continually evolving. We can expect more advanced natural language generation, AI-generated video content, and deeper integration with augmented and virtual reality. Voice search optimization, driven by AI assistants like Siri and Alexa, will become increasingly important. AI will also play a larger role in sentiment analysis, helping brands understand and respond to customer emotions in real-time. As AI technology advances, so will its applications in marketing, making campaigns smarter, more efficient, and highly personalized. The use of AI in digital marketing is reshaping the landscape of modern business. From personalized content and automated customer service to predictive analytics and programmatic advertising, AI enhances every aspect of the marketing funnel. While challenges remain, especially regarding ethics and data privacy, the benefits of integrating AI are undeniable. As we look to the future, embracing AI will be essential for marketers aiming to stay competitive, innovative, and customer-centric in an increasingly digital world. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Miami Herald
05-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Small business AI adoption declines to just 28%
Small business AI adoption declines to just 28% Is artificial intelligence (AI) living up to the hype for small business owners? NEXT's recent survey of AI tool adoption for small businesses shows that many are dialing back. Independent operators rely on AI tools to be more efficient, and they're optimistic about its impact. But many more seem to have stopped incorporating AI into their business operations since they were last surveyed in 2024. And cost and complexity seem to be the barriers keeping them out. How many small businesses use AI? NEXT surveyed 1,500 small business owners in April 2025 to ask about their AI usage and plans for implementation. While 42% of small businesses reported using AI in 2024, our 2025 survey reveals a significant drop to just 28%. Why the loss of interest? Some small business owners, like Danilo Coviello, founding partner of translation agency Espresso Translations, use AI regularly, but worry that it can add business risk. He says, "I use AI behind the scenes to streamline prep, clean terminology, and test briefs-but not to replace translators or project managers. AI can't sense tone shifts, legal nuance or when a vague phrase could cost a client down the line. It doesn't ask follow-up questions or spot formatting issues across languages. That's where people still matter. Accuracy, accountability, and context still belong to humans." Enthusiasm for AI adoption seems to have cooled. Last year, 27% planned to increase their business' AI use. When asked in 2025, only 23% would "definitely consider" adding AI. This year, just 19%-roughly 1 in 5 business owners-might add it. And 58% say they don't plan to use AI for business at all. 7 ways small businesses are using AI While AI adoption seems to be down across the board, those that are using it are finding some business value. Survey data shows small businesses mostly use AI for content creation and marketing, customer service and product suggestions. Small businesses also use the technology to help streamline calendars and scheduling tasks, as well as accounting and payroll. 1. Personalized content and automated marketing "In 2025, the key to leveraging AI in your marketing is to let it help you, not replace you, as the expert," says marketing and AI expert Brendan Egan, founder and CEO of digital marketing agency Simple SEO Group. AI marketing tools can help small businesses create personalized content and promotions. And small business owners are clued in: According to NEXT's survey, 11% of respondents use AI for marketing and content, making it the top use case. Small business owners need to understand AI's limitations and how to use it well. Says Egan, "While AI can write content, doing so may harm your site's Google rankings. While AI can craft customer-facing emails, many companies have been caught sending something they may not want to because AI wrote it." And there is no shortage of tools to help you with your work. Jasper and can help automate copy creation. And Canva and Midjourney can assist with images and graphics. "Currently, we are advising small businesses to leverage AI to help them with their marketing and not do it for them," Egan says. "For example, if you're writing a blog for SEO purposes to drive more traffic to your site, ask AI to come up with an outline and some facts for you so it is easier and faster for you to write the content. Ask AI to help you come up with creative ideas for ads in your niche or suggestions for keywords." 2. Chatbots for immediate customer service information NEXT's survey found that 9% of small business owners use AI for customer service using tools like AI assistant chatbots. These smart bots can free up your time to focus on more complex customer interactions-and could even help with cross-sell or upsell opportunities. Look for AI-powered chatbot platforms that allow you to build customized chatbots without coding skills. 3. Product recommendation tools for customized experiences NEXT's survey shows that 8% of business owners use AI for product recommendations to help small businesses boost sales and increase customer loyalty. Platforms like Shopify's AI-powered recommendations or Amazon Personalize analyze a customer's purchase history and browsing patterns to suggest relevant products. 4. Virtual assistants for schedules and device control Virtual assistants such as Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant aren't just for personal tasks. They're helpful in business, too. NEXT's survey shows 8% of business owners use AI to manage schedules and appointments, set reminders, answer quick queries and control smart devices at work. 5. Accounting and payroll tools AI accounting and payroll tools can make financial management tasks easier, reduce errors and save time. 7% of small business owners already use these tools to operate their business, NEXT's study shows. Popular platforms such as Quickbooks, Xero, Gusto and Freshbooks already use AI technology to automate repetitive financial tasks such as invoice processing, track expenses and manage payroll. 6. Data analysis and visual reporting AI-powered data tools like IBM Watson and Google's Looker Studio can help businesses understand complicated data like weaknesses, opportunities, product pricing and forecasting. These tools use machine learning to spot patterns and create clear visual reports to help you make more informed business decisions. 7. Intelligent document processing for invoices, shipping, transcripts and more AI document tools can boost efficiency by pulling data from things like invoices, receipts and purchase orders to cut down on errors from manual data entry. And if your business paperwork is suddenly digital, it can be easier to store, sort and search. Translation company owner Coviello uses AI to, " … generate internal docs more quickly, edit the templates given to clients and review the translation briefs." But AI for these tasks could introduce liability: "We once translated a supplier contract from German and the AI completely misread embedded acronyms. A human translator flagged it in two minutes, double-checked with the client, and fixed it before it caused damage. AI just moved on. In our field, that's the problem." Common barriers to adopting AI for business "Business owners generally fall into two buckets when it comes to integrating AI," says Egan of Simple SEO Group. "Those that are using it too much, or those who are not using it at all. In our experience, there are very few businesses using AI 'properly'." NEXT's survey data reveals small business owners have mixed feelings about AI's impact. While some owners (12%) believe AI could boost revenue, and operational efficiency (12%), many remain unsure or skeptical about its value. Some believe AI won't affect their business in any way (9%), believe it's a threat to their business (9%) or that it will decrease their profits (7%). A few obstacles that hinder AI's adoption include: Cost of implementation Though AI can often help cut costs, the price of adopting AI remains a hurdle for small businesses. The Bipartisan Policy Center reports that 55% of small business owners identify cost as a reason to not use AI. Lack of education A 2025 survey by Service Direct found that 62% of small businesses cite a lack of understanding about AI's benefits as a barrier to adoption. Many small business owners still view artificial intelligence tools as too complicated or meant only for larger businesses. The challenge of data management Data helps AI make more accurate predictions. But collecting, organizing and analyzing data can be difficult for small businesses. A Hyperscience and Harris Poll study found half of organizations don't use AI for document processing or workflow improvements, and 77% underuse available data needed for accurate AI models. This story was produced by NEXT and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. © Stacker Media, LLC.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Small business AI adoption declines to just 28%
Is artificial intelligence (AI) living up to the hype for small business owners? NEXT's recent survey of AI tool adoption for small businesses shows that many are dialing back. Independent operators rely on AI tools to be more efficient, and they're optimistic about its impact. But many more seem to have stopped incorporating AI into their business operations since they were last surveyed in 2024. And cost and complexity seem to be the barriers keeping them out. NEXT surveyed 1,500 small business owners in April 2025 to ask about their AI usage and plans for implementation. While 42% of small businesses reported using AI in 2024, our 2025 survey reveals a significant drop to just 28%. Why the loss of interest? Some small business owners, like Danilo Coviello, founding partner of translation agency Espresso Translations, use AI regularly, but worry that it can add business risk. He says, 'I use AI behind the scenes to streamline prep, clean terminology, and test briefs—but not to replace translators or project managers. AI can't sense tone shifts, legal nuance or when a vague phrase could cost a client down the line. It doesn't ask follow-up questions or spot formatting issues across languages. That's where people still matter. Accuracy, accountability, and context still belong to humans.' Enthusiasm for AI adoption seems to have cooled. Last year, 27% planned to increase their business' AI use. When asked in 2025, only 23% would 'definitely consider' adding AI. This year, just 19%—roughly 1 in 5 business owners—might add it. And 58% say they don't plan to use AI for business at all. While AI adoption seems to be down across the board, those that are using it are finding some business value. Survey data shows small businesses mostly use AI for content creation and marketing, customer service and product suggestions. Small businesses also use the technology to help streamline calendars and scheduling tasks, as well as accounting and payroll. 'In 2025, the key to leveraging AI in your marketing is to let it help you, not replace you, as the expert,' says marketing and AI expert Brendan Egan, founder and CEO of digital marketing agency Simple SEO Group. AI marketing tools can help small businesses create personalized content and promotions. And small business owners are clued in: According to NEXT's survey, 11% of respondents use AI for marketing and content, making it the top use case. Small business owners need to understand AI's limitations and how to use it well. Says Egan, 'While AI can write content, doing so may harm your site's Google rankings. While AI can craft customer-facing emails, many companies have been caught sending something they may not want to because AI wrote it.' And there is no shortage of tools to help you with your work. Jasper and can help automate copy creation. And Canva and Midjourney can assist with images and graphics. 'Currently, we are advising small businesses to leverage AI to help them with their marketing and not do it for them,' Egan says. 'For example, if you're writing a blog for SEO purposes to drive more traffic to your site, ask AI to come up with an outline and some facts for you so it is easier and faster for you to write the content. Ask AI to help you come up with creative ideas for ads in your niche or suggestions for keywords.' NEXT's survey found that 9% of small business owners use AI for customer service using tools like AI assistant chatbots. These smart bots can free up your time to focus on more complex customer interactions—and could even help with cross-sell or upsell opportunities. Look for AI-powered chatbot platforms that allow you to build customized chatbots without coding skills. NEXT's survey shows that 8% of business owners use AI for product recommendations to help small businesses boost sales and increase customer loyalty. Platforms like Shopify's AI-powered recommendations or Amazon Personalize analyze a customer's purchase history and browsing patterns to suggest relevant products. Virtual assistants such as Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant aren't just for personal tasks. They're helpful in business, too. NEXT's survey shows 8% of business owners use AI to manage schedules and appointments, set reminders, answer quick queries and control smart devices at work. AI accounting and payroll tools can make financial management tasks easier, reduce errors and save time. 7% of small business owners already use these tools to operate their business, NEXT's study shows. Popular platforms such as Quickbooks, Xero, Gusto and Freshbooks already use AI technology to automate repetitive financial tasks such as invoice processing, track expenses and manage payroll. AI-powered data tools like IBM Watson and Google's Looker Studio can help businesses understand complicated data like weaknesses, opportunities, product pricing and forecasting. These tools use machine learning to spot patterns and create clear visual reports to help you make more informed business decisions. AI document tools can boost efficiency by pulling data from things like invoices, receipts and purchase orders to cut down on errors from manual data entry. And if your business paperwork is suddenly digital, it can be easier to store, sort and search. Translation company owner Coviello uses AI to, ' … generate internal docs more quickly, edit the templates given to clients and review the translation briefs.' But AI for these tasks could introduce liability: 'We once translated a supplier contract from German and the AI completely misread embedded acronyms. A human translator flagged it in two minutes, double-checked with the client, and fixed it before it caused damage. AI just moved on. In our field, that's the problem.' 'Business owners generally fall into two buckets when it comes to integrating AI,' says Egan of Simple SEO Group. 'Those that are using it too much, or those who are not using it at all. In our experience, there are very few businesses using AI 'properly'.' NEXT's survey data reveals small business owners have mixed feelings about AI's impact. While some owners (12%) believe AI could boost revenue, and operational efficiency (12%), many remain unsure or skeptical about its value. Some believe AI won't affect their business in any way (9%), believe it's a threat to their business (9%) or that it will decrease their profits (7%). A few obstacles that hinder AI's adoption include: Cost of implementation Though AI can often help cut costs, the price of adopting AI remains a hurdle for small businesses. The Bipartisan Policy Center reports that 55% of small business owners identify cost as a reason to not use AI. Lack of education A 2025 survey by Service Direct found that 62% of small businesses cite a lack of understanding about AI's benefits as a barrier to adoption. Many small business owners still view artificial intelligence tools as too complicated or meant only for larger businesses. The challenge of data management Data helps AI make more accurate predictions. But collecting, organizing and analyzing data can be difficult for small businesses. A Hyperscience and Harris Poll study found half of organizations don't use AI for document processing or workflow improvements, and 77% underuse available data needed for accurate AI models. This story was produced by NEXT and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
Time Business News
27-05-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
How AI Is Changing the Drafting Phase, Not the Final Edit
Marketers today are embracing AI as a writing co-pilot, not a full-time ghostwriter. Generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Jasper, and SemanticPen are revolutionizing the drafting process, enabling faster ideation, outlining, and rough content creation. However, the final polish—the part that ensures brand voice, emotional resonance, and strategic alignment—still firmly belongs in human hands. AI is transforming the early stages of content development. What once took days—brainstorming angles, outlining posts, writing first drafts—can now be completed in hours. Idea generation : AI tools help marketers get past the blank page. With the right prompt, you can generate 10 content angles in seconds or discover long-tail keywords and niche topics that match search intent. : AI tools help marketers get past the blank page. With the right prompt, you can generate 10 content angles in seconds or discover long-tail keywords and niche topics that match search intent. First drafts : AI can convert a rough outline into structured prose. It's especially useful for producing blog posts, landing pages, or social media content in bulk. : AI can convert a rough outline into structured prose. It's especially useful for producing blog posts, landing pages, or social media content in bulk. Outlining and research: AI can summarize dense research, identify key points, and suggest logical content structures. For example, a content strategist at a B2B SaaS company reported that AI reduced her campaign planning time from 6 hours to 2 by generating base drafts and headline options automatically. This freed her up to spend more time on distribution strategy and team collaboration. These tools shine when speed is essential. AI enables a marketer to go from a blank page to 800 words in minutes—a massive productivity win when scaling content or under tight deadlines. While AI helps you say something faster, only humans make it matter. The final phase—editing for nuance, voice, and strategic impact—is where human talent remains irreplaceable. AI still struggles to understand and replicate brand tone in a consistent and authentic way. One brand might be quirky and informal; another might require a polished, authoritative tone. A well-trained writer can make these distinctions instinctively. AI, however, needs heavy input and even then can produce inconsistent results. Plus, AI doesn't understand business goals. Humans ensure each piece fits into a broader strategy—whether it's driving product interest, nurturing leads, or positioning a brand differently from competitors. Most AI-generated content lacks emotional weight. You might get a competent paragraph, but it often reads like a textbook. The subtle hooks that grab a reader—humor, empathy, vulnerability—are rarely captured in the first AI draft. Effective marketing content tells a story. It anticipates objections, speaks to pain points, and builds trust. That level of nuance and emotional intelligence is still deeply human. AI models generate content based on patterns in data—not verified truth. That means they can 'hallucinate' facts, cite outdated information, or invent statistics. In regulated industries like healthcare or finance, accuracy isn't optional—it's essential. Even in lifestyle or SaaS content, a factual error can damage credibility. Human review ensures that what gets published is both truthful and trustworthy. Let's consider a few examples of how AI supports the drafting process in modern marketing workflows. SemanticPen was built for fast-moving content teams. For early-stage startups without large marketing departments, it offers a practical way to get long-form content up and running quickly. A founder or marketing lead can input their key points, product features, or customer pain points, and get a full draft within minutes. The goal isn't to hit publish immediately—it's to accelerate the starting process so that the team can focus energy on refining tone, adding customer stories, and optimizing for SEO. Creative agencies often manage multiple brands and campaigns at once. Instead of assigning every draft from scratch, some agencies now rely on AI to generate first versions, freeing up writers to act more like editors. They focus on what matters: integrating brand messaging, fine-tuning CTAs, and collaborating with clients for feedback. Large organizations often work under strict brand guidelines. AI supports these teams by summarizing complex whitepapers into blog-ready formats or drafting quick email updates. Then in-house editors fine-tune the output to meet internal standards before publishing. The most effective marketing teams now operate in hybrid mode: Input detailed briefs to generate structured content fast. Let AI draft 70% of an article or asset. Use it for repetitive tasks like meta descriptions, product blurbs, or social snippets. Focus human time on brand, clarity, and emotional connection. Customize for tone and audience segmentation. Include quotes, stories, or real examples AI can't fabricate. Fact-check everything. Ensure consistent formatting and internal linking. Use human judgment for final sign-off. This balance allows for scale without compromising standards. The team works smarter, not just harder. One common misconception is that AI tools allow marketers to automate content entirely. But most professionals who've used these tools at scale will tell you: AI doesn't eliminate work—it shifts it. You spend less time writing from scratch but more time reviewing, editing, and making sure content aligns with your brand. The need for editorial oversight increases with volume, not decreases. Marketers who get this right understand that AI is a content partner, not a replacement for strategy or storytelling. Looking ahead, AI will become even better at assisting marketers—but not replacing them. We'll likely see more personalized AI outputs, brand-trained models, and better integrations with CMS platforms and scheduling tools. Yet the core workflow will stay the same: AI drafts fast. Humans edit smartly. Brands publish with confidence. As content saturation continues and audiences become savvier, standing out won't just be about how much you publish—but how much your content connects. AI is redefining the drafting phase of content creation. From brainstorming and outlining to bulk writing and repurposing, it unlocks massive time savings and creative flexibility. But it's still up to marketers to shape the message, inject emotion, and uphold quality. For professionals navigating fast-paced campaigns and lean team structures, tools like SemanticPen provide a productivity edge—but the final word should always come from you. In this new era of content, speed is valuable. But resonance is priceless. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Fast Company
07-05-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
How small businesses can harness AI to win big
These days, running a small business feels a bit like standing in the eye of a digital hurricane. The world is changing fast. Competition is tougher. Customers are savvier. And expectations are sky high. But here's the good news: Artificial intelligence (AI) has finally matured to the point where it's not just for Silicon Valley giants anymore—it's accessible, affordable, and downright essential for small businesses like yours and mine. I've spent the past year diving headfirst into AI, testing tools, automating tasks, and learning how to make smarter decisions with less effort. Let me tell you: the game has changed. If you're not using AI in your small business yet, you're leaving time, money, and opportunity on the table. So, let's talk about the most beneficial AI technologies for small businesses and how you can start using them today. Let's start with the obvious one: customer support. Back in the day, I'd spend hours answering emails, DMs, and support tickets. Now? My AI chatbot handles 80% of it. Tools like Zendesk AI, Intercom, and ChatGPT-powered bots can answer FAQs, process refunds, route requests, book appointments, and even upsell products or services. The best part? Customers get instant responses—24/7—and I get my time back. You no longer need a huge support team to deliver a world-class customer experience. You just need the right AI assistant. Tip: Train your chatbot using your actual FAQs, product descriptions, and tone of voice. The more context you give it, the better it performs. 2. AI FOR CONTENT CREATION AND MARKETING If marketing feels like a full-time job (on top of the one you already have), AI can seriously lighten the load. Tools like Jasper, and ChatGPT can write social media posts, blog articles, email newsletters, product descriptions, and ad copy. I've used AI to brainstorm campaigns, rewrite emails, and even script videos. It doesn't replace your voice—it enhances it. What used to take me hours now takes minutes. Tip: Use AI to generate a first draft, then add your personal touch. It saves time and keeps your content authentic. 3. AI-POWERED ANALYTICS AND FORECASTING Small businesses often operate on gut instinct, but now we have better tools. Platforms like Zoho Analytics, Tableau with AI plugins, and Microsoft Power BI now include predictive analytics powered by machine learning. You can forecast sales, spot trends, and even identify customer churn risks without needing a data science degree. I recently used predictive AI to forecast which products would perform best in Q2 based on seasonal trends and customer behavior. That insight helped me adjust inventory ahead of time and avoid overstocking slow movers. Tip: Start by consistently tracking your data—sales, customer behavior, engagement, etc. Remember: AI is only as smart as the data you give it. 4. AI FOR HIRING AND HR Hiring is tough, especially for small businesses competing with big employers. AI recruiting platforms like Breezy HR, HireVue, and Recruitee can scan resumes for qualifications, rank candidates, automate interview scheduling, and even assess soft skills through video AI. Personally, these tools have saved me weeks of manual review and even helped me find team members who were a better fit long term. Tip: Use AI to screen and streamline, but never fully replace the human touch in hiring. Culture still matters more than keywords. 5. AI-DRIVEN INVENTORY AND SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT If your business relies on physical products, AI can help you run leaner and smarter. Tools like NetSuite, ShipBob AI, or TradeGecko (now QuickBooks Commerce) can help predict demand, optimize restocking, automate purchase orders, and spot supply chain issues before they become disasters. For my small product line, this has meant better margins, fewer stockouts, and happier customers. Tip: Sync your AI tools with your sales platform (like Shopify or Square) so you can make decisions based on real-time data. 6. AI PERSONALIZATION TOOLS Customers now expect a personalized experience. AI lets you deliver it without hiring a full-time marketing team. Tools like Klaviyo, HubSpot, and Salesforce AI analyze customer behavior and send smart product recommendations, personalized offers, and dynamic email content. This kind of personalization used to be a luxury—now, it's standard. Tip: Set up customer segments and let the AI learn from how people interact with your emails, website, or store. AI ISN'T REPLACING US—IT'S EMPOWERING US I know some people worry that AI is going to take jobs or replace business owners. But here's what I've learned: AI doesn't replace people—it replaces inefficiency. It gives small business owners like us more time to focus on growth, strategy, and service—the things only humans can truly master. If you've been on the fence, now's the time to experiment. Pick one area of your business where you're spending too much time or money. Find an AI tool. Try it. Tweak it. Learn from it. The earlier you adopt, the further ahead you'll be.
