Want to start a small business with little capital? Try 'cooperating' with AI

AI - Ảnh 1. — AI technology applications are gradually becoming a support tool for small retail stores.

AI is becoming an extremely effective tool, helping small businesses, especially those with little capital, optimize operations and compete effectively.

Here's how AI can help small businesses with little capital:

Direct and indirect cost savings

AI helps small stores significantly cut costs, especially those that are often costly if done the traditional way.

Reduce personnel costs

Use chatbots and virtual assistants instead of hiring 24/7 call center or text message staff. AI chatbots can handle hundreds of requests at once. They answer frequently asked questions about products, prices, hours, return policies, and even guide customers through basic ordering.

Many chatbot platforms have free plans or very low monthly costs, helping small businesses save on employee salaries while still ensuring continuous customer service.

Additionally, AI can automate repetitive and time-consuming tasks like data entry, email sorting, appointment scheduling, and payment reminders. This frees up existing employees to focus on more strategic tasks, eliminating the need to hire additional people to handle manual tasks.

Optimize marketing costs

Precise ad targeting : AI algorithms analyze data on customer behavior and interests to identify the most potential audience. They help stores run highly personalized ad campaigns on platforms like Facebook Ads, Google Ads. Thanks to that, you don't "burn money" on advertising to people who are not interested, optimizing the effectiveness of advertising spending.

Automated content generation : AI content generation tools (e.g. ChatGPT, Copy.ai) can help write product descriptions, social media posts, ad headlines, marketing emails, or even video scripts. They can significantly save the cost of hiring professional content writers, or free up time for store owners to do it themselves.

Reduce the risk of loss and optimize inventory

AI analyzes historical sales data, market trends, seasonality, and even external factors (like weather, local events) to accurately predict which items will sell well and when. This helps stores stock the right amount of inventory, avoiding overstocking (wasting capital, incurring storage costs, expired/damaged goods) or understocking (lost sales opportunities, disappointing customers).

AI can also monitor transactions and detect suspicious or unusual activity, helping protect stores from losses due to payment fraud or theft.

Less resources, more efficiency

AI helps small shops do more with less resources, improving overall productivity.

Specifically:

Improve customer experience without investing too much in human resources. According to Tuoi Tre Online, even without a large customer care team, AI still helps stores provide 24/7 service, quick response and personalization. This creates a professional impression, increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty.

AI is capable of processing and analyzing large amounts of sales data and customer behavior quickly. It can find important insights such as best-selling products by season, peak shopping hours, and customer groups with similar interests. This helps store owners make informed business decisions about pricing strategies, marketing, or product development without having to hire expensive data analysts.

By automating simple tasks, AI frees up valuable time for store owners and employees, allowing them to focus on more value-added tasks like building customer relationships, developing new products, or strategizing business expansion.

The bottom line is that AI tools today are often offered as software as a service (SaaS) with monthly subscription plans that are very affordable and fit within the budget of small businesses.

Better customer service (thanks to chatbots), more relevant products (thanks to personalized recommendations), and a smoother shopping experience keep customers happy and engaged. This sets a solid foundation for future business expansion.

This whole process creates a positive loop, helping small businesses grow sustainably without having to "burn" too much capital, thereby easily surpassing larger competitors.

AI "companion"

If properly utilized, AI will be a smart and economical companion for small businesses, especially those with little capital.

By leveraging affordable AI tools, stores can automate processes, optimize costs, enhance customer experience, and make better decisions, thereby increasing their competitiveness and sustainability in the market.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ban-muon-lam-an-nho-it-von-hay-thu-hop-tac-voi-ai-20250606120017381.htm