Originally published by SAASMETRICS. Reposted with permission.
If you’re like most small-business owners, your biggest worry is keeping costs down and finding ways to make money. You may even be tempted to cut back on staffing to save money, but doing so can hurt your bottom line. Fortunately, there’s another way: by using software solutions. You may not realize it yet, but using technology can help you save money by cutting down on the number of people you need to hire. The global sales for artificial intelligence (AI) software are expected to reach $62.5 billion in 2022, up 21.3% from 2021.
Using Software Can Save You Money on Staffing
Using software to automate tasks that would otherwise require human intervention can save you money.
For example, if you had to hire a person to input sales numbers into your accounting database every month, then using the right software could help you do it for free. This is because most modern accounting systems are designed with automation in mind and can make use of artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to determine what numbers go where without any human intervention. When this type of AI is used correctly by a qualified professional, it’s accurate enough for most business needs.
You may also save money on staffing costs if other jobs could be automated through the use of software such as data entry or invoice processing. For example, say one employee was responsible for updating all customer contact information manually every time they made an order online—this process would likely be faster and far more accurate with an automated system in place (such as customer relationship management). That way, they’re not just entering data into spreadsheets but rather ensuring accuracy.
Another example is digital receptionist software. These systems are well-versed in the ins and outs of running an office, which means they can answer questions and direct people in the right direction when they’ve got questions about where things are or how to get what they need.
The Right Software Will Allow You to Contact and Record
In today’s world, it’s essential to have software that allows you to easily contact clients, track their requests, and have a record of your interactions. By using this kind of software, you can make sure that your customers are always satisfied with the service. Your business will get better reviews online and in word-of-mouth marketing because customers are more likely to recommend a company when they experience an excellent customer service experience. However, less than 1 in 4 brands have the necessary technology to engage with consumers consistently.
Software also helps increase sales by allowing companies to respond quickly when potential customers make inquiries about their products or services. The right software will allow businesses like yours to track customer requests so that employees know exactly what needs to be done next time someone comes into contact with them at work (whether via email or phone call). This way, there’s no confusion over who said what last time around – everything gets done faster, which means happier customers.
The software you use must be customized to meet the needs of your business. Customization will not only save time but also money. Customization allows you to optimize your existing processes while increasing efficiency and reducing costs by eliminating inefficiencies. With customization, employees can work more efficiently because they know exactly how to do their jobs without having to ask for help from other employees or managers. The main reason why people use software is that it helps them save time and money.
The world is going mobile, and it’s no secret that our phones and tablets are the tools we use to get things done. With this in mind, you should make sure your software works on mobile devices so your employees can remain connected even when they’re away from their desks. Having access to accounts while out of the office allows you to stay in touch with clients and employees who need immediate assistance or have questions about pending projects.
Employees Will Learn New Skills and Become Tech-Savvy
It’s not just about saving money. Software can also help your employees learn new skills and become more tech-savvy. When you have software in place, they’ll be able to use it in their everyday lives, which will give them an edge over other people who don’t have the same access to advanced technology. In addition, using software makes your business transparent and efficient—and employees who understand how things work will be better equipped to do their jobs well.
Software is an easy way to keep your business efficient. It’s also a great way to save money, and it can even help you get ahead of the curve when it comes to training new employees.
Software is simple for anyone who already knows how to use it, and learning software is much easier than learning a new language or skill. You don’t need any special skills or knowledge to operate the software well enough that it will benefit your business. This means that if you have an employee who wants to learn how your company works, they won’t have too much trouble transitioning into their role quickly because they already know how things work in general. And since there are fewer barriers between them and success, there’s less chance that they’ll leave as soon as something better comes along.
Software Will Keep Your Company’s Information Secure
While some businesses may be wary of using software because they worry about their data security, it’s important to remember that you can use software to maintain the confidentiality of your information. The first step is ensuring that the software you’re using has been vetted by third-party agencies who ensure its compliance with industry standards for security.
Once you’ve selected a secure platform, remember that this alone isn’t enough to guarantee your data will remain safe—it’s also important to choose a hosting provider with high-level encryption capabilities and implemented best practices for protecting sensitive data. If you do all this, then when it comes time for someone from a potential customer or supplier to contact you online, they’ll be able to do so confidently, knowing that their company information is secure and protected from hackers.
Using Software to Outsource Non-Critical Tasks
Artificial intelligence can help you outsource tasks that are not central to your product or service. You can use it to automate repetitive tasks that don’t require a human touch, such as data entry and data management. AI is being used in at least one function by 56% of all brands, up from 50% in 2020.
For example, if your organization is a tech startup and your primary focus is developing an innovative new app. Then you should not spend time manually entering data each time a customer changes their address or email. Instead, you could use artificial intelligence to automatically enter all of your customers’ information into an online database. Then when they contact you with questions about their accounts, your AI can retrieve the relevant information from the database and answer their questions automatically without requiring any input from humans.
Another example is if you have a brick-and-mortar store where customers can come in for repairs on their phones or computers. If one of your employees gets sick or goes on vacation, then they won’t be able to assist customers with repairs while they’re away. If you had an AI assistant like Siri or Alexa, it could answer customers’ questions about whether or not they need repairs.
If you want to improve your business, this is one of the best ways to do it. Software will save you time and money and let you focus on other aspects of running your business.