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Most companies today are data-driven, to mean that they are making their decisions based on data. No company is too small or too big to use data insights to make different decisions and run their operations. Machine learning has been instrumental in getting insights into the operations of a business using data without necessarily being programmed for that.
Technology is evolving, and better computer technologies are being employed in machine learning for better results. Businesses that have incorporated this technology in their operations have benefited from scalability and efficiency in their operations. There is so much that machine learning can do, ranging from identifying people, finding places, treatment in the healthcare industry, and much more.
We talked about it with the businessaddicted.com team and identified the following as some of the ways you can apply machine learning in your business to improve operations.
1. Maintenance
Predictive maintenance is something most manufacturers today are leaning towards to ensure that their machines are working optimally. If you are running a manufacturing company, this will bring about efficiency, which will also allow you to save on costs. Note that companies do regular maintenance, which is usually expensive, and unfortunately inefficient.
Machine learning can help the companies discover patterns in the machines’ operation and mitigate the unanticipated failure of machines and predictive maintenance, only when required. With this, businesses will avoid the risks associated with downtime and ensure efficient and cost-effective machinery maintenance.
2. Cybersecurity
Businesses today are using technology to run most of their operations. Be it in data entry, marketing, maintaining customer relationships, or even making a financial transaction. The shift to digital technologies has been beneficial for businesses as they have seen an increase in productivity, time, and cost savings, to mention a few.
While that is the case, there is a cybersecurity threat when using the technologies. The number of businesses that have fallen victim to cybercriminals is countless, and some have experienced irreversible damage. The one thing that has made it challenging to combat cybercrime is that new technologies are used to roll out new malware every day, and keep up with the changes has been difficult. However, machine learning has provided a solution to businesses allowing them to build technologies that can combat even the unknown threats.
3. Eliminating errors caused by manual entry of data
Manual entry of data increases the risk of human error. When it comes to businesses, errors caused could be anything from data being entered into the wrong spreadsheet, incorrect usage, typos, and much more. If left uncorrected, it can cause embarrassment to the business, lead to losses, and wrong diagnosis and treatment if it is a healthcare business.
As harmless as it may appear, human error can lead to losses, execution mistakes that can cost the business its reputation, and many other negative impacts on the business. Machine learning programs can eliminate unnecessary errors hence the risks associated with the wrong entry of data.
4. Chatbots
Customer experience is critical in helping customers build a perception of your business and mostly a positive one. Every interaction that a customer has with your businesses in one way or the other affects your bottom line. Through machine learning, businesses can use chatbot agents to provide customer support and attend to customer queries that may come across.
Initially, chatbots were programmed to give responses depending on certain keywords. However, through natural language programming and machine learning, interactions with customers have been more productive and interactive, leading to better customer satisfaction.
The same applies to digital assistants like Alexa that have given businesses a new outlook on customer service.
5. Product recommendations
Retail stores do not have to hire many attendants to help customers in making buying decisions. Machine learning programs are used for making product recommendations and help customers make purchasing decisions. Machine learning programs look at the purchase history of the consumers and match the inventory with the consumers’ preferences. These products are then suggested to the customers on marketing platforms and other arenas.
This goes a long way in motivating product purchases, upselling, and boosting sales.
6. Market research
A company’s success is determined by whether they are able to deliver the right products and services to the right customers. Retailers such as Walmart and Target are using machine learning to segment customers according to the type of inventory that sells most in a given demographic.
ML has helped such retailers gain insights into the shoppers’ preferences to target their needs and do better inventory planning.
Machine learning is among the critical technologies that every business needs to consider today. From predicting maintenance, enhancing customer experience, inventory planning, market research, and the reduction of errors, there is so much that machine learning can do to improve your operations and even the bottom-line.
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