It’s no secret that technology is becoming more and more a part of our daily lives, from the home, to the daily commute and in particular within the workplace. As we become more reliant on a paperless, cloud-based society, there is also the significant increase and implementation of the new faceless kid on the block: Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Merriam-Webster defines Artificial Intelligence as:
1 : a branch of computer science dealing with the simulation of intelligent behaviour in computers
2 : the capability of a machine to imitate intelligent human behaviour
Examples of AI technology can be experienced in everyday interactions ( think of things like Netflix and their thoughtful ‘suggested shows for you’ emails, and Spotify Daily Playlist) from mobile apps to software programs to the more advanced digital assistants like Amazon’s Alexa and Google Home.
AI technologies are easily adaptable to your office, regardless of the industry you are in, so let’s look at the way you can introduce it to help your small business increase its productivity and efficiency.
Voice-activated digital assistant devices
Your business might be in that next stage where you find yourself needing an extra pair of hands (or in this case a sleek, shiny, pocket sized electronic device) to help schedule and manage your day-to-day duties-but financially you just don’t have the extra cash flow to hire an assistant.
It might be worth checking out the resume of a voice-activated digital assistant. Its experience and skills include:
* Tell it your to-do list and get your tasks scheduled into your calendar
* Set up reminders for appointments and the due dates for important tasks
* Create the right working environment by syncing the thermostat, the sound system and lighting at the click of a button
* Tell it your notes- operating like a dictaphone, documents can be created from your voice
And who can forget the original voice-activated assistant, Siri, Apple’s helpful personal assistant! Siri is there for when you need directions when your on the road, when you need advice on the best places to take clients to lunch and even to remind you when that next important meeting is on.
There are many devices which are on the market, and they vary in cost from $55 to a couple of hundred, depending on what services your office requires.
AI software
Regardless if you are a PC or a Mac fan, there are AI software programs which are designed to make your day just that bit easier and can operate as an integrated digital assistant. From computer based systems to apps for your mobile phone/ tablet, accessibility to AI is readily available.
If you are wanting to test the waters and see if a digital assistant is right for your small business, then Windows users can download a free-lite version of Braina, an intelligent personal assistant. The software operates as a human language interface, automation and voice recognition system which can recognise over 100 different languages from over the world.
Some of its key features of the free Braina Lite version include:
* Search and play songs with voice commands from music files on your computer
* Create multiple alarms for reminders
* Text to speech, Braina can read website content, ebook, emails etc out loud
When it comes to documentation, Adobe Scan takes the hassle out of having to purchase a big old bulky scanner for the office. Downloadable as an app for your phone or tablet, the software has the ability to transform images into handy PDFs, and best of all it’s free!
Ways in which Adobe Scan will make your day easier:
* You can access your scanned documents anywhere, great for when you are working remotely away from the office
* Keep track of your spending by scanning in receipts and invoices
* Scanned documents become interactive with the facility to highlight and comment on the text
With the ever increasing demand and need for more types of AI technology and devices, there is always something new being developed to make our days just that bit easier.
Introducing AI into your workplace doesn’t need to be a headache- here are some of the best ways to implement it into your business:
- Identify what areas of your business need the assistance of AI technologies – each and every business will have their own individual requirements and needs. You might need an automated timesheet for your employees hours to assist with payroll or require a more personal assistant style system to help manage your day to day tasks. Find out what you need and don’t over complicate it, the aim of AI is to make your life easier and less stressful!
- Educate your employees to work with AI – One of the most common misconceptions about AI technologies at that they being introduced to replace employees, rather then designed to work with them. You want your employees to not feel threatened, but rather embrace the technologies and the ways in which they will make their day to day duties more efficient and streamlined, freeing up more time to other tasks.
Do you use AI in your business? We would love to hear what technologies you have implemented and how they affect the day-to-day running of your business
“The opinions expressed by BizWitty Contributors are their own, not those of BizCover and should not be relied upon in place of appropriate professional advice. Please read our full disclaimer."
