Carr Workplaces
The Future Is Already Here: 3 Ways To Use AI To Increase Efficiency and Grow Your Business

If you’re wondering how to use AI to increase efficiency and grow your business, you’re not alone. Recent data from Hootsuite and Nielsen offer insights into the rising popularity of artificial intelligence-based tools and how you can harness their power to scale your business:

• According to data from Hootsuite, the use of artificial intelligence-based tools is expected to skyrocket in 2024, with use of AI tools projected to increase by 200% to 300% or more in just this year alone. 
• The Hootsuite survey found that most businesses are using AI or are projected to increase their use of AI due to its potential to raise internal operational efficiency and boost growth.
• According to a report from the Nielsen Norman Group, AI can improve productivity by as much as 66%. 

You might be surprised to discover that the efficiency-boosting power of AI doesn’t just hold promise and potential for growth for large organizations and businesses. On the contrary, the use of AI technology by small businesses can also translate into significant cost savings and higher levels of efficiency. 

Check out these three ways to use AI to increase efficiency and grow your business and a bonus point of consideration for businesses of all sizes and types. 

1. How To Use AI To Increase Efficiency and Grow Your Business: Editing and Refining Content

According to Hootsuite’s report, tools for editing and refining text/content are likely to be the most frequently used artificial intelligence tools by businesses in 2024. 

The report found that 67% of businesses used AI tools for the purpose of editing and refining content in 2023. For more context, types of edited and refined content may include outlines for case studies, white papers, and blogs.

Use of AI-enhanced content editing tools is expected to increase by 28% this year, which indicates that 86% of businesses surveyed likely will be using AI for content editing by the end of 2024. 

Grammarly, Hemingway Editor, and Wordtune are just a few of the most popular AI-based editing and rewriting tools used by businesses. 

Though not specifically designed for editing and refining content or text, other popular AI tools often used for content editing include ChatGPT and Perplexity. 

2. Social Media Posts

Another way to use AI to increase efficiency and grow your business is via social media. 

The Hootsuite survey uncovered this gem of a statistic: 61% of organizations say the number one reason they use artificial intelligence for social media is to reduce employee workloads. In short, social media AI tools allow social media marketers to do more, faster.

Social Media Artificial Intelligence Tools

Artificial intelligence tools can be used in multiple ways vis-à-vis social media execution. 

Consider using AI tools for generating social media content ideas, image generation, post brainstorming, research on relevant hashtags, analyzing performance, and automating post scheduling. 

Additionally, social media AI tools can be impactful when used for competitor analysis, social listening, and other aspects of social media management. 

Popular AI social media tools include Buffer’s AI Assistant, Ocoya, Planoly, SocialBee, Canva, Jasper.ai, Hotpot.ai, and ClickUp.

3. AI Tools and Client Support 

The third way to use AI to increase efficiency and grow your business is in your interactions with customers. 

Research from Dialpad finds that contact/call centers using artificial intelligence are able to handle more than double the number of inquiries when compared with customer service centers not using AI tools. AI can save time by routing phone calls to specific departments, determining customer needs or intent, and providing self-service resolutions.

Additionally, the Hootsuite report reveals that use of AI specifically for producing customer support text from scratch is projected to increase by 260% this year.

Examples of AI-based customer support text generation tools include Writecream, ClickUp AI, and Magical.

Also notable: use of chatbots for responding to customer messages is expected to increase by 318% this year according to Hootsuite. 

Some of the most popular chatbots in use today include Zendesk, Netomi, Ada, and Einstein GPT by Salesforce. 

A Final Consideration: Generational Perceptions of AI, Transparency, and the Human Element

While using AI tools in your business can offer multiple benefits, including increased efficiency and growth potential, it’s important to also consider your clients’ viewpoints regarding AI. 

This is especially important if you’re contemplating using AI in your customer support. 

Some of your clients will be comfortable interacting with AI-based interfaces such as chatbots, while others may not. Unsurprisingly, acceptance of AI-based interactions often varies by generation. 

Artificial Intelligence: Generational Differences

Hootsuite’s surveys found that Gen Zers and Millennials are more likely to trust and engage with AI applications than Baby Boomers or Gen Xers. Conversely, Baby Boomers and Gen Xers report finding it more difficult than Gen Zers and Millennials to differentiate between real content and fake/AI-generated content. 

If, for example, your client base skews older, you may want to use AI tools in customer-facing interactions judiciously, as doing so may impact their feelings about your company. On the other hand, if your target audience is on the younger side, you may have more success in using AI tools with your clients. 

Be Transparent If You Use AI To Increase Efficiency and Grow Your Business

It’s also important to be transparent if you are using AI in communications, as clients may feel trust is broken if they think they’re interacting with a human but actually aren’t.

When implementing any use of AI in your business, it’s vital to establish clear internal guidelines to ensure accuracy and goals against which to measure success, as well. 

Maintain the Human Element

Finally, it’s essential when contemplating use of AI tools in your business to focus on preventing the loss of the human element. In any communications but especially direct communications with clients or prospects, you want to remain warm, genuine, and authentic. 

Key Takeaways: How To Use AI To Increase Efficiency and Grow Your Business

• Use of AI-based tools by businesses of all sizes is expected to grow significantly in 2024.
• Artificial intelligence offers the potential for increased operational efficiency, productivity, and cost savings.
• The top three business uses of artificial intelligence center on editing content, social media content generation, and customer support.
• Challenges include differing generational attitudes regarding artificial intelligence, transparency, and maintaining a human connection with your clients.

To schedule a free tour of a Carr Workplaces coworking center in your area, visit https://Carrworkplaces.com/Contact/ or call our team at (866) 982-5840.

Explore “The Power of Hybrid Work,” the previous post in our thought leadership blog series.