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With any rising business trend, executives tend to take a cautious, yet ambitious approach to how it may help or hinder a company’s day-to-day operations or bottom line. When it comes to artificial intelligence (AI), this reality is no different for building service contractors (BSCs). New platforms such as ChatGPT, if used properly, can be a huge boost for many administrative or recruiting-based tasks that all business have to tackle in order to stay organized and successful. At the same time, however, the unknown elements of AI especially from a data security or accuracy standpoint should encourage those same business to tread carefully.
To help clarify the benefits of AI as a business tool, Fortune Web Marketing’s Mara Gannon outlined four key areas BSCs can utilize the software to enhance business — along with some notable disclaimers to also keep in mind.
1. Improved Efficiency: AI-powered systems can automate routine tasks and improve decision-making, saving valuable time and resources. Examples include assistance with route planning, inventory management, monitoring building conditions, and more. For businesses that struggle with time management or effective communication among staff, AI can be pivotal in simplifying a lot of administrative processes.
2. Better Accuracy: AI algorithms can process and analyze large amounts of data with high accuracy, making it easier to identify potential issues before they become problems. The software can improve the accuracy of project planning and cost estimation by analyzing historical data and forecasting future trends. This can help contractors make educated decisions when delegating projects, assigning a reasoned amount of time to different tasks, and staying within often-strict budgets.
3. Enhanced Safety: AI-powered, including IoT sensors and cleaning robots, can help maintain a clean and safe environment for building occupants. BSCs should, however be mindful of the privacy and security of data. With AI comes a wealth of data, and it is important to ensure that this data is being handled ethically and with proper security measures in place. As AI continues to become more of a focal point in building services, it will be pivotal to emphasize cybersecurity to prevent breaches of sensitive data.
4. Recruiting Clients: AI-powered tools like chatbots can assist potential customers with questions, schedule calls/appointments, and provide more context on specific services. This enables employees to instead tackle more important tasks that only human expertise can handle. Additionally, AI can analyze data and identify trends on customer tendencies and preferences. From there, BSCs can utilize these insights to craft personalized marketing campaigns that resonate with specific segments of one’s target audience. A BSC, for example, could send out targeted promotions to customers who have shown an interest in sustainable initiatives, or who have indicated that they are interested in automated cleaning technology to improve the speed of cleaning tasks being done.
For related content, check out this report highlighting AI's role in field service management.