Small Businesses Are Locked Into AI

Artificial intelligence, or AI, can be found in pretty much every facet of business these days, and CIOs are more tempted than ever to use innovative AI tools. There are plenty of reasons: they can increase efficiency and do the mundane things that need to be done, but are more expensive. AI is more than just for generative content; strategic implementation means implementing the right tools for your business and taking action in a calculated manner.

Today, we want to explore the dangers of rushed adoption and why it’s important to carefully consider your business’ use of AI. The consequences of not doing so can be dangerous, to say the least.

What Happens When You Don’t Plan Your AI Adoption?

Chaos and General Quality Concerns

If you don’t curate and control the data provided to your AI model, its effectiveness can get away from you. SMBs can struggle with this, as they might not have their data under control, leading to fragmented and inconsistent results. If you can’t provide the AI with enough data, it can come to inappropriate conclusions or hallucinate results that don’t exist. Worse yet, it can provide biased or flawed decisions, which can significantly impact your business.

Lack of Clear Objectives

Businesses often implement AI without any clear objective in mind. This means they might adopt the wrong tools without determining if they’re actually solving a business problem. Ultimately, AI might be used for low-value tasks, utilized in not-so-efficient ways. Eventually, the lack of a return on investment will distract your employees from their responsibilities and the business will stray from its goals.

Integration Troubles

If you just start using tools all willy-nilly, they probably won’t integrate well with each other. SMBs often don’t have the technical expertise on staff to ensure these AI tools integrate and function with their existing CRM or inventory system. Ultimately, AI can create more problems than it solves, which only serves to hold your business back.

Ethics and Security Concerns

Larger enterprises might have in-house lawyers and compliance experts who can help manage these nuances of AI, but SMBs don’t have that luxury. This means that rushing an implementation can have unintended consequences, whether it’s for data security, privacy, or intellectual property. If you use generative AI without any clear internal policy to guide its use, you might end up risking your business’ IP or violating copyright policy law.

How Do You Implement AI the Right Way?

Small businesses that want to make the most of AI should consider the following tips:

Begin with a Problem in Mind

Before committing to any new AI solution, consider what your business’ biggest issues are. AI can help with certain problems, but you start with those problems, not the tools. Figure out which high-impact scenario you can solve with AI, then consider how it can improve your processes.

Audit Data and Processes

Next, you need to take inventory of your data, where it lives, and if it’s actually clean enough for AI to make effective use of it. You can then build out a governance framework that controls how your team uses AI and how you manage AI’s use of your data. Remember, you get out what you put in, and AI is only as effective as its input.

Determine the Right Tools

Oftentimes, the right tools are the ones that are the easiest to use and don’t cost the organization more than it can spend. Begin with a small pilot project, measure the results, and plan for what comes next.

Prioritize Training and Transparency

AI is a means to enable change for your business, but it’s a big one that requires you to train your employees on how to use it effectively. Be sure to communicate why you’re leaning so hard into AI, and be sure to include how it makes their jobs easier. Many employees fear that they might lose their jobs to AI, so address the concern that AI is out to replace you, too. 

Do you want to make better use of AI? C3-Solutions can help. Learn more about how we can help your business make effective use of technology solutions like AI by calling us today at (240) 226-7055.