Artificial intelligence technologies are changing the digital marketing landscape. As businesses continue to monitor trends or adapt their operations that serve their customer base, it is important to understand how AI is spearheading said change. The conventional marketing methods are quickly falling behind personalized, algorithm based, consumer data-centric strategies. Utilizing datasets, marketers are looking for insights into consumer behaviours that can then be used to tailor their marketing approach, thereby increasing the chances that algorithms will push their products to the right people. With the emergence of generative AI, there is great potential in advanced technologies based around generative AI software to help businesses strategically realign to a more refined and responsive marketing plan. In other words, AI models can help target the right demographics quicker than traditional market research methods, leading to greater access and more urgency in tailoring business messaging to communicate how their target demographics’ needs can be met. One way of embracing this evolution is getting your business “AI ready.” Analyzing your business operations to identify opportunities for AI integration is a crucial first step in embracing this new way to stay ahead in an intensely competitive landscape.
AI readiness has become a business venture unto itself. A quick Google search will reveal there are just as many differing strategies as there are companies that provide AI readiness assessments as a paid service. AI solutions are, at the very least, a point of interest for many organizations, but AI readiness goes behind merely using large language models to create better ad copy. Image recognition, natural language processing, predictive analytics, AI-driven SEO, prompt engineering, data collecting, and software programming are just some elements of an entire AI ecosystem that has emerged. The challenge that follows for businesses is to identify areas where they can incorporate these tools into their existing structures, and how this integration can be optimized to produce better results.
Deciding how to use AI to improve your business will require an two assessments:
- The desired results you want AI processes to help a business achieve
- The capabilities of the current infrastructure as to whether it can accommodate AI integration and what modifications need to be made
As the technology is new and rapidly evolving, it is understandable that many businesses are unfamiliar with what is available to them while others may be struggling to even grasp the technology itself. This need is where a lot of technology companies, like Microsoft, IBM, and Intel, are able to service small to large scale businesses to identify areas of their operations that could benefit from AI, and how it could best be implemented. Hospitals, for example, can use image recognition software to screen, diagnose, or identify risks of disease. Other systems can be used to better monitor patients. Manufacturing spaces can use similar technology to identify machinery faults, which could save repair costs down the road as well as eliminate machine-down time. Warehouses can use analytical AI software to manage inventory and run different analytical scenarios. Some organizations may want to use NLP to automate customer service, redeploying their agents into other, more critical areas of the company. Others may want to build an entire AI infrastructure from scratch, which requires a data centre, software creation, and training models tailored specifically to the business and its needs. The possibilities are vast and increasing quickly.
The integration of AI specifically into digital marketing represents a transformative leap forward. By leveraging AI tools, marketers gain unprecedented capabilities to enhance customer engagement and drive business growth. Using analytic models can help marketers anticipate customer needs and behaviours, allowing for more proactive marketing efforts. Content creation tools are able to help shape much more engaging content that adapts to the changing algorithms of social media platforms to put the right content in front of the right users. Continued advancements in AI algorithms will lead to even more personalized marketing experiences, while further innovations will enhance content visibility. The personalization aspect is possibly the most crucial function for AI to benefit businesses. As platform content becomes more and more personalized to the users preferences, these tools do not just help marketing strategies stay relevant. They actually ensure growth and success in an increasingly competitive digital landscape.
This is not to say that companies that do not embrace AI technologies are doomed to fail. However, a shift in thinking towards learning about how these technologies work, and how they can benefit, and even how they can create new obstacles to overcome, could prove to be beneficial in the long run. Equipping teams with the skills to optimize these technologies would be a beneficial first step before any monetary investment in AI is made. It is also important to understand how different cultures and diverse places interpret and utilize the technology in their own way. Business is global, and the more intertwined marketing becomes with AI, the wider the scope of understanding needs to be.
So is there a model that can be referenced to determine the “AI readiness” of a business. In their published white paper, Intel identifies three areas that can identify whether a business has the resources, infrastructure, and process models in place to accommodate AI integration:
Foundational – Some of the most important elements required to manage the flow of AI is network bandwidth and cloud capability. AI consumes a large amount of processing power and storage space. Data sources for deep learning algorithms and software tools for data management could also be required. In this stage, companies are assessing their existing infrastructure as well as the changes that need to be made to accommodate their goals.
Operational – Once the AI tools have been implemented, they require regular monitoring and updates, if necessary. This stage is where the business needs to ensure the right skills, expertise, and operational management are in place. This could include developers, IT personnel, programmers, cybersecurity agents to identify security risks from input data, as well as governance, compliance, and risk management teams.
Transformational – Regardless of what the AI technology does or why it was needed, at the end of the day, the implementation needs to yield positive results for the business. This can come in the form of two things; either more accurate information needed to make better decisions for the future of the company’s ability to generate more revenue, or automated a part of a business that will help lower operational costs. The better adapted the AI tools to the specific needs of the business, the better the return on investment (so far as theory goes).
The integration of Artificial Intelligence into digital marketing is revolutionizing consumer engagement and business growth, with personalized, data-driven strategies overshadowing traditional approaches. There are benefits to integrating AI tools and technology models to enhance business operations. Doing so requires an understanding of how ready businesses are to embrace the technology. In such a case, businesses must strategically assess their operations for AI integration across foundational, operational, and transformational levels, considering infrastructure, processes, and skill sets. Embracing AI requires more than superficial understanding; it demands continuous learning and cultural sensitivity in a globalized business landscape. By equipping teams with the necessary skills and aligning AI initiatives with organizational goals, businesses can maximize the potential of AI technologies to drive positive outcomes, ensuring growth, efficiency, and competitiveness in an ever evolving digital world.