AI business process automation: 4 ways to boost efficiency

Running a thriving business in Singapore's competitive landscape often means juggling multiple workflows and stakeholders. However, managing daily processes should not be the main drain on your time and energy.

Fortunately, AI business process automation tools offer a robust solution, enabling you to delegate routine tasks, improve efficiency, and free up your capacity to focus on strategic growth and market expansion.

Ready to shift your focus from repetitive tasks to innovation? Read on to find out what AI business automation can do for your business in the modern marketplace.

How AI and automation help your business

AI business process automation involves using intelligent tools to handle repetitive workflows, freeing up human capital. In turn, you stand to reap the following benefits:

• Enhanced operational speed: Automation executes tasks instantly and continuously, eliminating human latency and accelerating processing times across the business.
• Improved reliability: Intelligent tools operate with near-perfect accuracy, significantly reducing the errors, inconsistencies, and compliance risks associated with manual work.
• Data-driven decision making: One of the core uses of AI in business is to process vast amounts of data quickly, providing real-time insights and analytics that inform better strategic choices.

Here are four ways in which you can leverage AI and automation to boost efficiency.

1. Optimize operations with AI workflow tools

Leverage AI workflow tools to automate your business processes, turning endless to-do lists into seamless, managed operations. 

Consider these automation tools to boost efficiency for your team:

• Asana: This tool uses AI to predict project bottlenecks and suggest resource planning adjustments, ensuring tasks are auto-assigned efficiently and deadlines are met¹.
• Trello: Using AI, Trello streamlines communication by converting email or chat messages into actionable to-do list cards and generating concise summaries of team activity².
• Notion: Among many functions, this platform assists in auto-generating meeting summaries and creating marketing content that matches your brand voice and style³.

2. Strengthen customer engagement with BPM automation

Today’s consumers demand highly personalized content before they can be convinced to purchase. According to Statista, 64% of consumers worldwide indicated a preference for companies that tailored their customer experiences, demonstrating how targeted marketing materials need to be to convert leads into sales⁴.

To meet this customer expectation, use AI and business process management (BPM) automation to analyze data and create personalized customer journeys at scale. Consider the following tools:

AI-powered CRM systems

You can integrate AI into your customer relationship management (CRM) systems to strengthen your customer engagement strategies. By analyzing vast data sets, you transform raw data into actionable insights for marketing and sales.

For example, your customers’ browsing histories provide clues to their pain points and needs. With this information, you can tailor emails with custom subject lines, greetings, and relevant product recommendations. 

Additionally, you can offer discounts on abandoned cart items to entice prospects further.

By utilizing a high level of segmentation, you improve the odds of reaching customers with the right message at the right time, increasing satisfaction and conversion rates. 

AI-powered chatbots

AI-powered chatbots, such as ChatGPT, HubSpot Chatbot, and Zendesk, can also enhance your customer engagement capabilities across functions:

• Answer FAQs: Instantly resolve common questions about products, services, or policies with AI-powered live chats to save your staff valuable time for more complex issues.
• Provide 24/7 customer support: Ensure customers receive immediate help even outside of business hours so that you can maintain a high level of service availability around the clock.
• Assist with order tracking: Integrate chatbots with your shipping data to provide instant courier tracking information to your customers, reducing anxiety and improving delivery transparency.

3. Run the backend with finance automation

One of the top uses of AI in business is in finance automation, where you can use intelligent systems to manage repetitive tasks like invoicing, expense tracking, and payroll management. 

In doing so, you minimize human error in these critical processes, significantly reducing compliance risks and providing real-time financial insights for better decision-making. 

These BPM automation tools can help you achieve such efficiency:

• Solvexia: This tool automates financial data extraction and reporting, offering powerful analytics to provide richer insights and support decision making⁵.
• Xero: Xero offers automated bookkeeping services, streamlining administrative tasks, such as invoicing, payroll, and maintaining tax compliance⁶.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance: This software provides a suite of services to optimize finances, such as scenario modelling to help users align financial strategy with real-time operational insights⁷.

4. Streamline logistics on an integrated platform

Seamless deliveries and efficient order fulfillment are vital to maintain customer trust and satisfaction, especially when you ship globally.

Therefore, consider adopting an on-stop platform with automation capabilities tool, such as DHL’s MyDHL+ platform, to enhance the experience for you and your customers.

Be it invoicing or tracking shipments, MyDHL+ offers a suite of user-friendly tools to meet your shipping needs:

• Shipment management: Effortlessly schedule pickups and manage billing while offering flexibility to suit your customers’ needs.
• Courier tracking: Enjoy peace of mind from being able to monitor your shipments’ progress in real-time. 

DHL also partners with CFOTI to help businesses navigate global tariffs with innovative solutions such as the upcoming generative AI tool built to provide global trade advice.

Build a business that works while you sleep today

The benefits of automation in business are manifold – from speeding up daily workflow processes to sharpening your customer engagement strategies. By capitalizing on these solutions, you can divert time and resources toward the things that matter most, such as building a scalable and resilient business. 

So, start maximizing your efficiency for long-term growth when you adopt AI automation tools for your business.