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How AI Agents Can Help SMBs Do More With Less
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The business world moves at rapid speed and for companies with smaller teams, it can be challenging to keep up. The good news is that with the help of AI agents, SMBs with fewer resources get what they need to compete with larger enterprises. If your team is bogged down with repetitive tasks, AI agents can free up much of that time.
This article is sponsored by Intuit.
But the benefits of AI agents don’t end with simple automation. Read ahead to learn how small businesses like yours are using these robust tools to streamline complex workflows and improve everything from accounting to project management.
What are AI agents?
AI agents are software programs with the power to automate a range of intricate business functions. Similar to the technology behind chatbots, AI agents are designed to perform tasks, typically initiated by a prompt with a specific goal. They can operate independently, continuously working in the background to deliver more accurate and efficient results over time.
AI agents especially stand out for their ability to multitask, with an accelerated capacity for learning elaborate rules. For SMBs that need support with more complex activities, AI agents can provide:
- Predictive analytics: AI agents are ideal for analyzing large volumes of data and identifying patterns. This feature can be especially useful for tasks like financial fraud detection.
- Workflow automation: With AI agents, you can set up rule-based triggers for streamlining workflows, such as invoice processing or routing sales leads.
- Real-time decision making: The analytic capabilities of AI agents can also be used to make informed choices based on past data. For instance, a manufacturing company might use AI agents to monitor inventory stock and decide when it’s time to reorder before materials are depleted.
Types of AI Agents SMBs can leverage
What exactly can AI agents do for your business? These are some of the top areas AI agents are designed to improve.
Customer management agents
AI agents have incredible potential to streamline customer support tasks for small businesses. From generating and qualifying leads to drafting personalized emails, AI agents free up valuable time for your team. Customer management agents from platforms like Intuit QuickBooks allow you to track customer interactions and automate follow up messages, helping you nurture client relationships and build loyalty.
Customer management agents can also play a powerful role in maintaining data integrity within your customer relationship management (CRM) software. In addition to automating data entry, AI agents have incredible lead scoring capabilities, predicting how likely a potential customer is to convert. They can also look at existing customer data to predict future behavior, which is ideal for tailoring communications. For instance, if you have a client that asks to check-in every six months, AI agents can help with scheduling that meeting before that customer reaches out.
Accounting and bookkeeping agents
Accounting agents can help with areas as simple as invoice tracking and collections, as well as more complex undertakings such as bank reconciliation. With potent pattern recognition abilities, AI agents optimize cash flow forecasting and other financial KPIs with automated reports. These programs can also detect anomalies early, such as duplicate transactions or inaccurate expense categorization, so your team can swiftly resolve any discrepancies in your numbers.
AI accounting agents also work proactively to ensure tax season goes smoothly. In addition to help with calculating payroll deductions, these agents will ensure you remain compliant with all local and federal regulations.
Marketing and communications agents
Use AI agents to automate simple marketing tasks and create tailored messages that resonate with your target audience. Personalized emails are one of the most effective strategies for getting your customers’ attention and AI marketing agents make it easy to craft effective communications.
AI agents can analyze customer behavior and demographic information to create customer segments that allow you to run more effective campaigns. With this data, you’ll have the tools you need to draft messages that speak directly to each member of your diverse customer base.
Marketing AI agents can also provide support beyond your email campaigns. Social media AI agents have the power to automate post scheduling and help manage your paid social campaigns. These agents can also supplement your customer support efforts by monitoring comments for feedback and inquiries.
If customers are frequently complaining on your social profiles, AI agents will alert you of negative communications. With social media AI agents, you’ll know when to engage with unhappy customers, so they know their satisfaction is your company’s priority.
Project management agents
Project managers already have a long list of tasks to keep track of, so let AI agents lighten the load. AI agents are incredibly useful for properly allocating resources, with the ability to holistically review team availability in conjunction with deadlines and project goals. If you’re at risk of going over budget, these agents will alert you before you overspend. Performance analytics features also allow AI agents to review outcomes in past projects, so you can plan a more efficient timeline in the future.
Benefits of AI agents for SMBs
AI agents help you keep business moving in so many ways. Here are the top advantages your team will enjoy when you implement AI agents into your workflows:
- Save valuable time: Possibly the most apparent AI agent benefit, increased automation can free up tons of time so your team can focus on big picture tasks. In fact, Intuit found that AI agents can save SMBs as much as 12 hours each month.
- Improve cash flow: Businesses that utilize accounting agents see collections on outstanding invoices at an average rate of five days sooner than companies that don’t use AI agents.
- Increase accuracy: Automating repetitive tasks like data entry or transaction categorization significantly reduces the rate of human error.
- Prepare for growth: Scaling your small business is easier with the help of AI agents. If you don’t have the budget for additional headcount, AI agents can help you handle the increase in customer traffic and keep things running smoothly.
- Better customer experience: With AI agents handling multiple customer interactions at once, you’ll be able to reduce wait times, while clients get their issues resolved faster.
- Operate 24/7: Even when it’s closing time for your team, your AI agents continue to monitor activity and execute tasks at all hours.