Please note: Before pursuing the use of any AI tools for your business, it’s advisable to evaluate the differences between using free versus paid versions, especially with regard to security awareness and protecting your company’s intellectual property. This includes reviewing all privacy policies and user and master service agreements before entering any sensitive company information. Thorough research before implementing any AI tools can enable your business to better evaluate potential data, privacy and security risks.
By Jennifer Rogers (LinkedIn), treasurer, NTEA Generation Next Steering Committee
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing various industries, and the truck equipment industry is no exception. Although AI services and programs can be intimidating, they can be a huge asset to minimizing your workload when used correctly. Take it slow at first, see where it can help streamline some of your workload, and watch your productivity increase. AI is still a little bit of the “Wild West,” so turning to it for everything is not a good solution. But there are certain tools that can make communication and data analysis lightning fast and easy for all audiences to comprehend. Here are the top five ways I have found AI can help professionals new to the truck equipment industry. Although I do not endorse any of the websites below, I do find it beneficial to see how certain platforms and apps have harnessed the power of AI to work to our advantage.
1. Predictive maintenance
AI-powered predictive maintenance systems analyze data from sensors on trucks to predict equipment failures before they happen. This proactive approach reduces downtime and maintenance costs. This can be anything from machinery at an upfitter, to process flow at a factory, to a fleet manager looking for vehicle maintenance schedules on trucks.
Example: A fleet manager can receive alerts about potential engine failures in advance, allowing for timely repairs and preventing costly breakdowns on the road. Websites like Uptake offer AI-driven predictive maintenance solutions tailored for the transportation industry.
2. Sales and marketing data analysis
Ever look at a spreadsheet full of data and wish someone could just organize it for you? When an Excel pro is not around, have no fear; AI to the rescue! AI can take complicated data and organize it in a way that makes it easy to visualize and comprehend for a large number of people.
Example: AI can be leveraged to identify emerging market trends and customer demands, enabling sales professionals to tailor strategies and improve customer satisfaction. Polymer offers AI-powered analytics tools that help businesses make data-driven decisions, while representing data in a way that is easy to digest and present.
3. Marketing and communication copy brainstorming
AI allows for the enhancement of written copy, SEO, data analysis, and more. Although AI can be used to create ad copy or help you write an article, I advise against using it word for word. AI scans billions of websites to create and combine ideas in a new way. It is great for idea generation, but for advertising and marketing copy, you are better off using it to brainstorm and then come up with your own copy. Was this article written with AI? It helped brainstorm ideas, but I did the rest, I promise.
Example: Chat GPT can be a very powerful tool to come up with ideas and organize logic in ways you have not thought of before. Use it to spark inspiration or organize a presentation but the content should still come from you. Those in sales and marketing who use AI know that there is a specific tone to AI written material; don't be the person who just hits copy and paste. It can also help to organize large amounts of data in a simplistic way. Chat GPT can be a rabbit hole of information and you need to know how to effectively create prompts to get the information you need. This article helps define prompts for Chat GPT in a simple way, but there are many out there, so do your research to get the most out of this tool.
4. Project organization
AI project management software can make project organization a breeze and solidify execution by automating routine tasks such as scheduling, resource allocation, and progress tracking. It provides predictive analytics to foresee potential bottlenecks, enabling you to not trip over a hurdle, making problem-solving predictive, and allowing you to be efficient with decision-making. Additionally, AI tools enhance collaboration by integrating communication platforms and offering real-time updates, ensuring all team members are on the same page and aligned with project goals.
Example: Why spend time organizing routine tasks for a project? Monday.com uses AI technology to become your project assistant. You can plan, track, and execute on objectives and communicate those metrics to anyone involved. You can automate reminders and task due emails, or be notified if there has been an update to a task. AI used in this way ensures your entire team is always on the same page.
5. Data-driven decision making
AI tools analyze vast amounts of data to provide insights and forecasts, aiding in strategic decision-making. This includes market trends, customer preferences, and equipment performance metrics.
Example: An analyst can leverage AI to identify emerging market trends and customer demands, allowing them to tailor their sales strategies and improve customer satisfaction. Tableau (more intense knowledge needed, but a fantastic tool) or Polymer (a little more user friendly) offer AI-powered analytics tools that help businesses make data-driven decisions.
The above are just some suggestions. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of programs out there that harness the benefits of AI. Although the full potential of this new technology is yet unknown, it can already be applied in simple ways to reduce workload and facilitate the easy and productive exchange of data. Although it is still relatively new, who knows what the future holds? But do not be left behind. There is no doubt that AI will be a huge part of our lives in the coming decades and it’s best to be an early adopter of this technology.
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