AI and Small Business: The New Superpower for Every Department
- caitlincorey1
- Apr 25
- 3 min read
In business, one truth always holds: adapt or get left behind. Today, adaptation means embracing artificial intelligence (AI). Once a playground for tech giants, AI is the engine powering leaner, more innovative, faster small businesses across every department.
According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Teneo:
98% of small businesses are using AI
40% are using generative AI
Let’s break down why — and how — that shift is generating real results beyond the hype.
AI Is Not Just for Sales – It’s for Survival
AI started as a tool for sales teams, but its real power is enterprise wide. From finance to operations, marketing to HR, AI is helping small businesses do more with less, faster than ever before.
$127,000/year saved by automating sales development tasks
1,500+ hours/month reclaimed by simplifying knowledge access
20% faster onboarding with AI-powered internal tools
Operations: Automate to Accelerate
Manual tasks are expensive. AI eliminates them.
super.com, a travel-fintech startup, uses AI-powered search tools to centralize knowledge access. Result? A reduction in onboarding time from 8 weeks to 5.5 weeks and over 1,500 staff hours saved every month.
AI chatbots and assistants manage scheduling, reporting, inventory tracking — even compliance checks — with zero burnout.
Marketing: Smarter Outreach, Less Overhead
Marketing used to mean headcount. Now it means smart tech.
Otto’s Grotto, a sticker shop, used ChatGPT and Jasper to write product descriptions and campaign copy. Online sales more than doubled.
Happy & Glorious kept operations lean by using AI to manage content and outreach without hiring more staff.
AI doesn’t replace creativity — it fuels it by handling the heavy lifting.
Customer Experience: Personalized at Scale
AI analyzes user behavior to automatically tailor experiences. Whether recommending the next product or predicting churn, AI allows small businesses to offer a “big company” feel.
Fiserv, a fintech firm, uses AI to conduct dynamic customer surveys. The result? A 10-point increase in Net Promoter Scores and stronger retention.
Finance & Strategy: Insight Without the Overhead
CFOs love AI for one reason: predictive clarity.
AI tools surface financial trends, forecast revenue, and flag anomalies before they become problems.
Real-time dashboards now analyze performance, track KPIs, and generate reports — no analysts needed.
The Real ROI: Why AI Matters to Your Bottom Line
AI isn’t a buzzword. It’s a bottom-line multiplier.
22% faster sales cycles
12% improved retention
$94,000 in ARR from upsells
$416,000 in new pipeline
The companies seeing these gains aren’t billion-dollar unicorns. They’re your competitors — the small businesses who said yes to AI early.
How to Get Started (Without Getting Overwhelmed)
Pick a pain point – Start small. Email automation, FAQs, invoicing, and customer segmentation.
Train your team – AI’s impact is limited if no one knows how to use it.
Stay human – Let AI handle the grunt work. You focus on connection, strategy, and service.
How Flagler Technologies Helps You Win with AI
At Flagler, we don’t just sell software — we deliver outcomes. Here’s how:
AI Readiness Assessments – We help you identify where AI can immediately impact your workflows.
Automation and Workflow Design— We use the right tools to build more innovative processes from email follow-ups to customer segmentation.
Microsoft 365 Copilot + Azure AI Enablement – We help you turn your Microsoft investment into an intelligent productivity engine.
Secure AI Infrastructure – As a cybersecurity-first provider, we ensure your AI rollout doesn’t come at the cost of risk.
Ongoing Support & Training—There is no “set it and forget it” here. We train your team and keep things optimized as your business grows.
Conclusion: AI Is the Great Equalizer
AI isn’t optional. It’s strategic. The playing field has shifted, and AI is letting small businesses play like giants. If you’re not exploring it now, you're already behind.
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Unlock the power of AI—no matter the size of your business. Whether you're a growing small business or a large enterprise, Flagler Technologies delivers AI-driven solutions and managed services tailored to your unique goals. From automating workflows to driving smarter decision-making, we help you stay competitive in today’s fast-paced digital world.
Let Flagler Technologies be your trusted partner in innovation. Contact us today to learn how we can support your success.
