Artificial intelligence for main street is more than robots, self-driving cars, natural language processing (NLP), machine learning and chatbots. Small businesses like restaurants, nail salons and hair salons should look at AI in terms of applications that can automate your business processes – do more with less and keep a safe distance.
You do not have to have deep background in statistics, math or programming, you just need to understand the deep logic and flow of your business. You can leave the rest to existing AI platforms, cloud providers and consultants that understand your sectors.
This example is for nail salons, but you can apply this to restaurants and other small businesses. You also need to be mindful that getting your nails done require a series of steps and some of those steps can be automated. The process starts before a customer sits down with a nail technician and ends with a thank you follow up several hours later. Think about more about the “technician” part of nail technician!
What are the new skills required for Artificial Intelligence?
For those that love technology or have spouses that are in the technical field, then you can ask them for help. You need to be familiar with high-level object-oriented programming languages such as Java, Python, R, C, C++ and server-side scripting languages such as NodeJS, PHP, ASP, JSP, Ruby, etc … You also need to understand fuzzy Logic, Neural Networks, Cognitive Computing, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Data Analysis, Search technologies, APIs, enterprise architecture and security architecture; are some technological underpinnings of AI.
Luckily for us there are existing platforms that require no programming skills. All you need to bring is a blend of expertise, curiosity and ability to learn. In the post COVID age, you must change.
What about machine learning?
Machine learning is considered necessary for trends-spotting since you have no idea what patterns exist within your business and with your customers. With every industry applying AI, machine learning expertise is available as a platform. I spent eight years learning about the accounting industry, independent ethnic restaurants and beauty services. There are patterns that you can leverage, survive and thrive.
With an AI toolbox, you need to be multi-functional and work across technologies, platforms, and grow in sync with the company visions. So, the secret here is to look around, and gain the in depth understanding of your industry. Pick out the leaders in your industry, copy, innovate and leapfrog.