EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

Small businesses are facing an increasing number of demands, and need innovative solutions to stay competitive in today’s fast-paced digital landscape. Technological advancements, like those in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), are providing small businesses with the tools that they need to tackle tough challenges.

Artificial intelligence-based tools and technologies can streamline processes, boost efficiency and improve decision-making. From automating tasks to enhancing customer experiences, AI-based tools have become a game changer for small businesses.

Have a small business? In this article, we’ll highlight 15 of the best AI tools for you. Whether you’re looking to optimize your customer support, marketing, tracking, accounting or cyber security, these AI-based solutions can help business owners and operators stay ahead of the curve and accelerate business success.

Why AI-based tools matter

AI-based tools are becoming all-the-rage among small businesses on account of their abilities to automate processes, increase efficiency and improve decision-making, among other things. Discover key advantages of incorporating AI tools into small business environments:

Increased efficiency. AI-based tools can automate repetitive tasks, such as data entry and document management, freeing up employees’ time to focus on higher-value activities.

Improved accuracy. AI-based tools can perform tasks with greater accuracy and consistency than humans, limiting the risk of errors and elevating the quality of the work. For example, AI-powered accounting software can accurately track expenses and generate financial reports.

Better decision-making. AI-based tools have high-power analytics capabilities, enabling businesses to arm themselves with real-time metrics and to make better informed decisions pertaining to trends, opportunities and risks.

Cost savings. AI-based tools can reduce costs by automating tasks that would otherwise depend on human labor.

Competitive advantage. Optimized efficiency, accuracy and decision-making can help businesses stay ahead of the competition and attract new customers.

AI-based customer support tools

1. Zendesk. This customer service platform leverages AI-powered tools to help businesses automate and streamline customer support operations. Zendesk’s AI tools allow business owners to manage customer inquiries, route tickets to the appropriate support teams and provide personalized customer support.
2. Intercom. This is a customer communications platform that uses AI to help businesses offer personalized customer support. The company’s AI-based tools can provide insights into customer behavior and preferences, allowing businesses to create more targeted and effective support strategies.
3. Freshdesk. This is a customer service platform that can automate tasks, such as ticket routing and response management, enabling businesses to provide fast and efficient support to their communities.

AI-based marketing tools

4. HubSpot. A leading provider of marketing automation software that uses AI to automate tasks, HubSpot’s software can automate lead nurturing, content creation, and social media management. AI-powered tools can analyze customer data to provide insights into customer behavior and preferences, enabling businesses to create more targeted marketing campaigns. According to a study by Aberdeen Group, companies that use marketing automation software, like HubSpot, see 53% higher conversion rates than those that don’t.
5. Salesforce. Salesforce is a customer relationship management (CRM) platform that uses AI to help businesses manage their sales and marketing efforts. Salesforce’s AI-powered tools can analyze customer data to offer insights into customer behavior, preferences and purchasing patterns, empowering businesses to create more targeted marketing campaigns.
6. Marketo. This is a marketing automation platform that leverages AI to help businesses manage their marketing campaigns. Marketo’s AI-powered tools can analyze customer data to provide insights into customer behavior and preferences. This allows businesses to create more targeted marketing campaigns.

AI-based tracking and analytics tools

7. Google Analytics. This is a free online analytics platform that deploys AI to help businesses gain visibility into web traffic, user behavior and customer engagement. Google Analytics can provide insights into audience demographics, along with page and product performance information. In turn, businesses can use the data to optimize websites.
8. IBM Watson Analytics. This is an AI-powered platform that can help businesses extract insights from their data easily and efficiently. The platform uses natural language processing to allow users to interact with data in an intuitive way, making it easy for businesses to derive insights and lead with data-driven decisions.
9. Tableau. This is a data visualization and business intelligence tool that uses AI to help businesses identify patterns and trends in data, facilitating more informed decision-making.

AI-based accounting and compliance tools

10. Xero. This is an AI-powered cloud accounting platform that allows small businesses to optimize financial management. Xero’s AI tools can automate bookkeeping tasks, reconcile bank transactions and can generate reports, saving time and reducing the risk of errors.
11. QuickBooks. This software can assist with expense tracking, invoice management, and custom report generation. Research shows that enterprises using QuickBooks can improve their financial management capabilities and can save time on administrative tasks.
12. Compliance.ai. This AI management platform can help small businesses stay up-to-date when it comes to regulatory requirements. The company’s tools monitor and analyze regulatory changes, automate compliance tasks and generate reports, reducing the risk of non-compliance and penalties.

AI-based cyber security tools

13. Avanan email security. This is an AI-powered email security solution that safeguards email systems from phishing, malware and other email-based threats. It uses AI and machine learning to detect and block threats, and provides advanced threat intelligence and threat hunting capabilities. The solution also offers compliance management and data loss prevention features.
14. Check Point Harmony Endpoint. This AI-powered endpoint security solution helps small business owners protect their devices from malware, ransomware, and other cyber threats. It uses AI and machine learning algorithms to detect and block threats in real-time and provides a centralized dashboard for managing security policies and alerts.
15. Check Point CloudGuard. This AI-powered cloud security solution helps small businesses secure their cloud infrastructure and applications. It uses AI and automation to detect and block threats and provides visibility and control over cloud workloads and data. CloudGuard can help small businesses protect their sensitive data and comply with industry regulations.

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