This is a question we put to local small business retailers using the Tower Systems software. That led to us hosting a free workshop last Friday in which we explored the question and plenty more about AI and its use today in POS software in retail.
In the discussion we talk about how retailers, including newsagents, are using AI in their businesses and we show several examples of this.
POS software embedded AI tools absolutely help you save time, cut mistakes and make more profitable business decisions. I know because I use them myself.
AI use in business, especially small business, is a hot topic. Thursday I recorded an interview for the ABC Am program and Friday I recorded an episode of a podcast for a specific channel of small business retailers in Australia (not newsagents), in which AI was a hot topic.
There is no avoiding it. The smart move is to learn and embrace. The video of the discussion Friday shares insights around protecting your IP and some easy to access tools that can enhance your business performance.
I know of plenty of newsagents using AI tools today to save time, support better business decisions and to provide business performance insights that otherwise might have taken hours or days to do the old way.
I know of newsagents who have cut external accountant and consultant fees by using AI to do the analysis work for them, to find weaknesses in the business performance data, to lay out a pathway for improving the business.
These are real uses of AI tools in Aussie newsagency businesses today. Anyone can access them. The Tower software has terrific AI tools embedded in the software. You can also use excellent AI tools outside of any software.
Personally, I think we are in an exciting moment in time with AI. It’s scary too, for sure, given the bad than can be done with AI. I have no control over that though, and it cannot be regulated now. My interest is in what I can do today to run a more successful business. AI tools are key here. The video I share in this post is barely a start in the conversation about what you can do in your newsagency with AI tools.
Our goal in the discussion Friday was to transparently discuss and answer questions as part of our mission to help small business retailers be aware of AI tools for retail and to show how AI may not be what they think of it as being.
Are retailers using AI today? for sure!
Is AI safe? Yes, as safe as any tool used properly.
Can small businesses use AI to compete? Yes, AI tools help small business retailers do more with less and to more quickly analyse their performance in ways that big businesses only used be able to.
Is AI changing? Yes, rapidly. What our POS software with AI today is very different to just a few months ago.
For small business retailers who are hesitant about using AI, this discussion directly addresses common fears and misconceptions. We transparently answer questions and show how AI can be a powerful, safe tool.
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Mark Fletcher founded newsagency software company Tower Systems and is the CEO of newsXpress, a marketing group serving innovative newsagents keen to evolve their businesses for a bright future. You can reach him on mark@newsxpress.com.au or 0418 321 338.