From automated dispatch to smart inventory, independent operators are leveraging background tech to cut waste and boost thin margins.
EXPERT OPINION BY JOHN HALL, CO-FOUNDER @HTTPS://TWITTER.COM/JOHNHALL
Artificial intelligence is more than a tool for large companies. It can help locally focused smaller chains and even single-location operations gain a new edge over their competition.
I’m seeing restaurants, retailers, and service businesses adopt AI in different ways; their goals tend to be similar. They want to operate smarter, reduce waste and use AI to improve profitability.
Here are some of the ways I see this new AI playbook transforming different kinds of local businesses.
The restaurant industry
An example of a niche area in which AI is heavily influencing success is the restaurant industry. Restaurants are notoriously difficult to run profitably, and AI technology is becoming an asset to help them become more profitable. AI technology can help to identify waste, and reducing waste is especially important for restaurant operators looking to see more growth.
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The key is discovering the right tools that can address real restaurant inefficiencies. UseMarty, for instance, analyzes restaurant labor, inventory and POS data to surface operational issues for owners. This can convert the messy operational data into actionable steps, which AI can be helpful with evolving into a profitable business.
Restaurant managers and leadership should look for AI tools that can function like this—as an operations analyst. When a platform can detect food waste, labor inefficiencies and other operational problems in real time, it can help managers address them before they cut further into already thin margins.
The retail industry
Retail remains a core part of many Main Street economies. It’s also a complex business model, and one where AI can improve specific parts of operations when used thoughtfully.
Source: www.inc.com
