Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in the United States are embracing artificial intelligence (AI) and automation for their day-to-day processes. Faced with increasing costs, businesses are now using automation to help them complete manual tasks in the office rather than laying off employees. A recent study found that 55% of SMBs are now using automation to save costs in functions such as research, scheduling and data analysis.
Why SMBs Are Turning to Automation
The cost of doing business is growing, and companies need to keep up efficiency levels while keeping morale high. As per the new survey from Website Builder Expert:
- 55% of SMBs are automating marketing research, scheduling and data analysis.
- 10% of SMBs are purchasing automation tools instead of laying off staff, while 3% are cutting jobs.
This shows a shift in approach: companies are focusing on using technology to increase productivity rather than reducing head count.
Key Workplace Tasks Being Automated
The trend is towards automation of routine tasks. The top six uses of AI are:
1. Market Research
More than 55% of SMBs automate the collection and analysis of market data. These technologies eliminate the need for manual market research, automate reporting and offer quicker access to information.
2. Scheduling and Calendar Management
Automation simplifies scheduling, meeting coordination and administrative tasks. The use of scheduling software by 55% of SMBs makes operations smoother.
3. Data Analysis
Over 52% of SMBs leverage AI for data analytics. Automated reporting is faster and more accurate, enabling real-time decision-making.
4. Inventory Management
52% of SMBs use automation software to monitor inventory and manage the supply chain. This helps them forecast demand, avoid out-of-stock situations, and optimise inventory levels.
5. Writing Tasks
Almost 48% of SMBs use AI writing tools to generate content like emails and marketing messages. Automation maintains brand voice and tone, accelerates content creation for campaigns, and delivers campaigns at scale across channels.
6. Personalized Marketing
Some 42% of SMBs use automation to personalise their marketing in real time. This boosts conversion rates and fosters brand loyalty through targeted communications.
Tasks Businesses Avoid Automating
Automation works best for mundane tasks, but some tasks are still heavily dependent on human intervention:
- Security procedures (0%): Risky tasks that involve critical data need to be handled by people.
- Legal research (27%): Human judgment is needed for complex legal tasks.
- Design tasks (30%): Creativity is hard to automate.
- Document sorting (30%): Confidential documents may need human sorting.
These are not tasks well suited to AI. Automation may assist with mundane tasks, but security, legal and creative functions are best left to humans.
Benefits of Automation for SMBs
Automation has a number of benefits:
- Cost savings: Lowers costs by automating routine tasks.
- Time savings: Allows staff to engage in more value-added activities.
- Consistency: Provides consistency in content and procedures.
- Scalability: Enables growth without the need for a proportional increase in human resources.
Risks of Over-Automation
However, over-automating has its drawbacks:
- Security threats: Automation could miss nuanced risks.
- Lack of personalisation: Automation can make customer experiences impersonal.
- Technological reliance: Outages can impact services.
Striking the right balance between automation and human intervention is key to overcoming these challenges.
Expert Insights
Lucy Carney, Editor at Website Builder Expert, says: "With the rise of higher operating costs, it's interesting to see that 10% of SMBs are employing automation as a key tactic to combat this economic pinch. What I found particularly fascinating when reading between the lines here, is the tasks being automated - manual jobs like market research and scheduling are primarily being replaced. This illustrates the transition from reducing headcount to increasing productivity from existing staff by taking over relatively less important tasks."
Practical Tips for Efficient Automation
SMB leaders should do the following before automating in 2016:
- Evaluate needs: Determine what needs efficiency.
- Check budgets: Make sure automation tools align with budget.
- Compare tools: Assess features, costs and user-friendliness.
- Think of the team: Prepare for implementation and training.
Conclusion
Automation and AI are transforming jobs by automating manual processes. SMBs are using automation to conduct market research, create targeted marketing campaigns and cut costs. But companies need to balance automation with human skills, particularly in security, legal and creative activities. By embracing automation SMBs can streamline processes and boost productivity, allowing them to stay competitive in a dynamic market.
