Top 9 Reasons Your Business Needs AI Automation Right Now

I remember the day as if it were yesterday. I sat in my small, cluttered home office, surrounded by endless papers and endless tasks. Running a start up as a solo founder had taken its toll. I felt imprisoned by the madness of my endless to-do list. Amid this chaos, I thought… there must be another way! This was my introduction to AI automation tools. It was the eureka moment that I could see unlocking all of the start ups around me.

1. Effortless Efficiency: Freeing Time and Mind

Before implementing AI, my days were filled with repetitive routines and uninspiring tasks. Now, tools like Make.com and N8N allow integration between platforms, effortlessly managing recurring tasks. This automation brings efficiency, reducing human error while reintroducing tranquillity into my schedule. Freedom to think strategically came with AI’s help, allowing my focus where it was needed—strategy and creativity.

2. Competitive Edge: Stay Ahead

In business, standing out isn’t just beneficial—it’s necessary. I realised early on that adopting AI automation wasn’t merely about keeping pace but carving out a niche ahead of my competitors. AI helps you evolve faster than competitors who are yet to embrace technology. That innovative edge is vital, especially in a saturated market.

3. Personalised Marketing: Reaching More Effectively

Running marketing campaigns can feel like shooting in the dark. But AI unveils precision. Tools like HubSpot use AI-driven insights to tailor personal experiences to customers. But you can take matters into your own hands… by understanding their behaviours, I discovered patterns and crafted relevant messaging, leading to focused lead generation campaigns at scale and better ROI.

4. Cost-Effective Operations: From Frivolous to Frugal

Budget constraints are a beast every start-up founder wrestles with. When you marry AI with business operations, you transform frivolous spending into frugal excellence. Automation reduced the need for hiring, allowing for reinvestment in strategic areas, a tangible saving realised within the first few months.  The majority of the founders I support say that having the bandwidth, team resources or headcount is one of their biggest restraints.  If this is you… then you need to consider how much you can automate in your business, whether social media growth, marketing, sales or lead generation. There is a large opportunity for you to reclaim your time and it’s available to you – once you become aware.

5. Enhanced Customer Service: AI’s Human Touch

Initially, I feared AI might not be ready yet. But that is all in how you choose to use it. Where you choose to use it and for what reason.  People value people, but sometimes you just want the right answer to your bespoke question.  If you could ask google, you would, and in those instances you can not only satisfy your potential customers but provide them with an improved brand experience with an AI chat bot.  It’s the human that leads the strategy. It should only be where it can actually add value. I personally would not replace human contact quite yet and I would assess the data. Run your tests, know your numbers and test and learn where appropriate!

6. Smarter Decision-Making: Changing Landscape.

The business landscape is ever-changing, particularly for female founders, who in 2023 and 2024 garnered a mere 2% of VC funding in the UK.   So the task at hand is already incredibly challenging.  I have found that understanding and using AI automations is the equivalent of getting 100k from Angel investors – but without giving away any equity!   You can deploy in web development, scale your marketing, generate leads or new customers to the level of having a team of 3 supporting your plan.

7. Real-Time Insights: Keeping Pace with Change

Evolving markets demand agility—or you’ve missed the boat. AI real-time data analytics keep businesses informed and agile, enabling adaptation to changes promptly. This responsiveness creates relevance, preserving market presence amid economic shifts, offering new avenues for investments and opportunities.

8. Innovative Product Development: Beyond Tradition

Innovation in product development wasn’t always feasible given budget constraints. AI and machine learning predicted trends and consumer desires, making ideation an informed process. This contributed to releases renowned for their alignment with consumer expectation while reducing the risk of failure.

9. Future-Proofing: The Next Frontier

As I gaze ahead, I see AI’s ever-growing potential. Those in hesitation may face an outdated predicament shortly. I predict that, within three years, AI will permeate intricate business functions, re-architecting employment landscapes. Those ready to embrace will find themselves pioneers of a redefined industry.

In the journey of growing businesses, especially as female founders we can embrace AI as more than mechanising workflows we can allow it to free us to revolutionise how we approach strategy.