Finding the Balance: When to Automate Data Transfer and When to Embrace AI
This is the first in a series of short articles on how businesses can utilize modern technology but when it’s overkill to AI the heck out of everything. One major resource-consuming task is data transfer between business systems. This work is necessary and important to power data-driven decision making but with a laundry list of important tasks to complete, who has time to consolidate all of this data together and manually configure report after report? Answers should come fast and easy so you can move on to strategy that drives growth.
Automating data transfer is a no-brainer for enhancing productivity and streamlining operations. Today’s business tech stack can include CRM platforms, accounting software, HR tools, inventory management, and many others. Adding these systems can streamline single functions within your business but there’s real power in quickly having all of this information consolidated in a single place that can be leveraged to understand the big picture. Yet, not all automated systems require the AI sledgehammer.
Ever hear the saying, “what ‘ain't broke, don’t fix”? That saying holds true for good ‘ole fashion programmatic automations. By implementing routines that run nightly or in near real-time, businesses can seamlessly update their database with the latest information, creating a single source of data truth. This not only saves time but also ensures data consistency and accuracy. Moreover, leveraging this centralized data repository, businesses can create dynamic dashboards and generate insightful reports, enabling informed decision-making at every level.
However, what if the data isn't neatly contained within software applications? Consider the challenge of extracting information from physical documents, such as real estate flyers. Manually sifting through stacks of flyers to input data into a spreadsheet is not only time-consuming but also prone to errors. You will miss your next deal because you were too busy incorrectly typing an address into a spreadsheet! This is where the AI sledgehammer comes into play.
Technologies like computer vision (CV) and natural language processing (NLP) can revolutionize this process. By harnessing the power of AI, businesses can automate the extraction of relevant information from unstructured data sources, such as images and text. In the case of real estate flyers, CV algorithms can analyze images to identify key details like property addresses and sales prices, while NLP algorithms can parse textual information to extract additional insights.
To wrap it all up, the key lies in finding the right balance between automation and AI. While automating data transfer between systems is essential for optimizing processes, the decision to incorporate AI should be driven by the complexity and nature of the data at hand. By leveraging the appropriate technologies judiciously, businesses can stay ahead of the curve and drive sustainable growth in today's data-driven world.
Getting started typically begins with a buy or build decision. There are many types of software available to help businesses with automation tasks, some equipped with AI technology for the complex stuff. For a more tailored approach, businesses can choose to design and build their own systems and intelligence interfaces.
If you’re looking to get started, Gamma State can guide you down both paths.
