Practical application of AI in small businesses: case studies and examples

Artificial intelligence (AI) has long ceased to be the privilege of large corporations with multi-million pound budgets. Today, its solutions are available even to small businesses, allowing them to significantly optimise processes, reduce costs and improve customer service. In this article, we will look at how AI can be applied in various aspects of small business using specific examples.

Main areas of AI application in small business

1. Automation of routine tasks

AI takes on everyday tasks, saving employees time. For example:

automatic document completion

application processing

warehouse management

2. Improving customer interaction

Chatbots, personalised recommendations and predictive analytics help small businesses build customer relationships more effectively.

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3. Marketing and analytics

AI can predict trends, evaluate the effectiveness of advertising campaigns, and even generate personalised offers for customers.

4. Financial management

Financial management, revenue forecasting, and risk analysis are also becoming easier with AI.

AI use cases

1. Speeding up work with chatbots

Case study: A small bakery implemented a chatbot to take orders.

Result: Within the first three months, the owner reduced order processing time by 40%. Customers appreciated the convenience of instant responses in messengers.

Examples of tools:

• ManyChat for chatbots on social networks
• Dialogflow from Google for website integration

2. Personalising recommendations in an online store

Case study: An online clothing store used AI algorithms to personalise recommendations.

How it works: Based on purchase history and website behaviour, algorithms suggest products that the customer is likely to like.

Result:

25% increase in average check

15% decrease in shopping cart abandonment

Example tools:

Recombee

Amazon Personalise

Marketing optimisation

Case study: A beauty salon implemented AI to analyse advertising campaigns on social media.

AI tracked the success of each ad, its audience, and publication time.

Result:

ROI of advertising campaigns increased by 30%

Advertising costs decreased by 20%

Examples of tools:

Adzooma

Hootsuite with AI data analysis module

Tips for implementing AI for small businesses

1. Start with simple solutions

Use ready-made tools (chatbots, CRM with AI) instead of developing from scratch. It’s cheaper and faster.

2. Collect data

High-quality data is the basis for AI. Make sure your CRM or other systems allow you to collect and analyse data.

3. Train your employees

Provide basic training for your team so they can work effectively with AI.

4. Measure results

Regularly evaluate the effectiveness of the technologies you’ve implemented to understand what’s working and what needs improvement.

Conclusion

AI offers tremendous opportunities for small businesses, from automating tasks to improving customer engagement and marketing effectiveness. Even simple steps in this area can have a significant impact on results.

Start with small implementations — chatbots, data analysis tools, or personalised offers. Over time, once you understand the potential, you can scale up your use of AI, turning it into a powerful tool for growing your business.