Working smarter not harder: Four ways AI can support your business

AI is on everyone's mind, it's exciting and can greatly help people be more productive and creative. But how can AI help the average Kiwi business or entrepreneur? Spencer Bailey, Head of New Zealand – Meta, asks this very question. 

In New Zealand, small and medium-sized businesses are constantly looking for ways to work smarter, not harder. A recent New Zealand.AI article suggests that there is growing interest and strategic consideration of AI among many New Zealand businesses, driven by various commercial needs such as cost reduction and improved customer experience​ (NewZealand.AI).

We've just released Meta AI for our users across Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, a free and powerful personal assistant you can ask questions, speak creativity and leverage current information to make you more productive. But there are many other ways businesses can leverage AI, which can help you save time on tasks, increase your capabilities, or even reach new customers more effectively. 

1. Leverage AI to bring your imagination to life
Today, the majority of us are discovering brands online and on social media. But for small and medium-sized businesses, it can be incredibly onerous and time consuming to balance always-on marketing campaigns while juggling other business needs. 

Now, brands can bring their most imaginative ideas to life with AI tools right at their fingertips. Need a suite of campaign images for an ad but don't have the budget for photography? Not a problem with AI image generation technology from the likes of Meta AI, Adobe and Canva.

Creative represents one the biggest levers advertisers can pull to improve campaign performance. We're investing in more generative AI features on our platforms within our Ads Manager, making it easier than ever to diversify creative assets.

AI can also help businesses keep up – generating video content ideas, plan production and timings, generate visuals and even speed up the editing process. 

2. AI can help you to stay on top of customer service
A happy and loyal customer base is the key to success for any business. It's no longer enough just to provide timely replies to customer queries; the modern consumer expects personalisation. Importantly seeing promos and offers relevant to their interests and receiving a customer service experience that feels personal. AI-powered chatbots or virtual assistants can automate customer interactions, freeing up valuable time for more strategic tasks.

Meta is leading the charge in this space, empowering businesses to harness AI tools to personalise recommendations based on customer behaviour and preferences. These technologies enable companies to offer a bespoke experience that keeps customers engaged and satisfied. So buckle up because, with AI on your side, you can take your customer service to a whole new level.

3. AI can be your advertising ally
How much time and money could you be saving with AI? If you manage your marketing internally and need a faster solution to advertise your products or services, AI can be your most powerful ally. 

Most advertisers expect to save time by using AI, with more than half estimating that generative AI will save up to five or more hours a week – the equivalent of one month per year. 
Social media companies are making it easier than ever for brands to tap into AI advertising and marketing tools within the platform itself. AI and machine learning can help optimise campaign results, personalise ads by serving them to the right people at the right time. 

AI does more than just save time, it enables businesses to deliver personalised ad experiences to users, it tailors content based on preferences and ensures your content is delivered to the right audience.

4. Don't miss out on AI-powered data insights
Imagine having a crystal ball that shows you exactly how your customers interact with your content, and what works and what doesn't. Well, that is exactly what AI powered tools can do for you. 

The days of online surveys and customer feedback forms are long gone. AI tools can offer instant information by crunching the data and creating smart insights, allowing you to tailor your content using real-time data. For the first time, small businesses have the power to use big-player technology to get ahead of their competitors and make the most of the data and analytics they might have been missing out on. 

By employing these strategies, you can start to really captivate your audience, streamline your processes, and take your business to the next level.