Using artificial intelligence in business: 25 examples to inspire you!

Wondering how AI is being used in business and what you can do with it?

Artificial intelligence is now at the heart of all business issues. Most organisations have realised that this technology is the key to boosting their performance and competitiveness. But they still need to know how to use it with finesse, how to tame this AI that some people thought, just yesterday, was reserved for a few works of science fiction. 🚀

As with many innovations, the best way to find out how to make the most of artificial intelligence is to look to your neighbour for inspiration.

So, between generic use cases and concrete illustrations, discover 25 examples of artificial intelligence in business.

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Artificial intelligence in the enterprise: 15 examples of use cases

When it comes to artificial intelligence, there are many use cases . All are generally aimed at one or more of the following objectives:

• increasing productivity
• deploy a more relevant strategy
• improving the customer experience
• become more agile and innovative;

🔎 To learn more, read our article Understanding the use of AI in business to boost efficiency and innovation.

That said, let's find out more about the main applications of AI in business, addressed to different businesses and industries (and therefore inevitably yours!).

#1 Virtual assistants

This is undoubtedly one of the most striking manifestations of AI within companies in recent years.

These virtual assistants, which are distinguished by their conversational intelligence and whose technology is largely based on natural language processing, support employees in carrying out various tasks:

• answering questions ;
• sort emails according to urgency
• automatically schedule meetings
• writing summary reports, etc.

The best thing about all this? These assistants learn over time, to increase your efficiency even more! 💪

#2 Content creation

With the explosion of ChatGPT, professionals have realised what a boon AI is for content creation, and of all types:

• blog articles, white papers or social network posts for marketing ;
• product descriptions on e-commerce sites
• job offers for recruitment and human resources departments;
• Emails and sales pitches for the sales department;
• audio content, such as self-narrated podcasts;
• infographics based on automatically visualised data, etc.

#3 Intelligent recommendation

Much appreciated by marketers, recommendation and personalisation enable you to offer your customers truly differentiating experiences, and to suggest products that are likely to appeal to them.

Here too, artificial intelligence comes to the rescue. To do this, it relies on machine learning, and aims to offer the right message, at the right time, to the right person. And that clearly boosts consumer engagement!

💡 This technology is also used to train employees, who then benefit from courses tailored to their needs (adaptive learning).

#4 Personalising the user experience

If intelligence helps you to offer recommendations that hit the nail on the head, it offers you the opportunity to go even further in personalising the customer journey.

👉 For example, by analysing user behaviour in real time, AI adjusts the interface and interaction to precisely meet their needs, in favour of a truly unique customer experience.

#5 Chatbots

With the same desire to improve the customer experience, it's hard not to think of chatbots, which are now capable of automating the responses given to customers. This is one of the most visible uses of artificial intelligence in business.

More specifically, behind each chatbot is an AI that analyses user requests in real time in order to solve their problems, while simulating a human conversation (because customers don't want to talk to robots!).

The benefits of this technology are twofold:

• the company, for its part, makes significant savings ;
• the customer benefits from 24/7 assistance.

#6 Process automation

Another widespread use of artificial intelligence in business is the automation of processes and repetitive tasks with low added value. And this use of AI can be found in all areas and professions!

We've already talked about artificial intelligence writing content for you, but it doesn't stop there! For example, it can optimise :

• accounting (data entry, invoice filing, document analysis, etc.) ;
• HR, in particular recruitment via automatic analysis of CVs;
• support, where AI is proving invaluable for processing emails and requests.

#7 Predictive analysis

Predictive analysis uses artificial intelligence to anticipate future events by studying past data. Handy for companies when they want to make strategic decisions!

👉 For example:

• in the retail sector, AI predicts product demand, for better stock management ;
• in manufacturing, artificial intelligence uses sensors to predict equipment breakdowns;
• in marketing, it is possible to predict future consumer behaviour... and so stay one step ahead of the competition!

#8 Real-time decision-making

While AI enables us to see the future, let's not forget that it also helps us to understand the present. And instantly.

👉 Here, artificial intelligence is proving particularly useful in stock management processes. Indeed, faced with the growing demands (and impatience!) of consumers, it is more important than ever for companies to demonstrate agility when it comes to replenishment, or even when calculating delivery routes.

#9 Anomaly detection

AI also stands out for its ability to spot small inconsistencies and unusual behaviour that might escape the vigilance of a human being.

A boon for many professions, particularly those in finance.

👉 Here's a concrete example: artificial intelligence can automatically analyse thousands of accounting lines, and thus spot :

• an invoice twice as high as usual ;
• a payment to a new supplier that is not listed in the accounts;
• an expense incurred outside the procedure, etc.

This means you can react immediately, even before the accounts department has finished for the month.

#10 Computer vision

Computer vision is transforming the way organisations interact with the physical world. Thanks to artificial intelligence, machines can interpret images or videos in real time. And they often operate much faster than humans.

What's more, by drawing on deep learning technology, AI is now able to process much more complex data.

👉 As a result, computer vision is working miracles in certain fields, particularly the medical sector. It helps professionals in the sector to draw up their diagnoses, to detect anomalies invisible to the naked eye (tumours, signs of stroke, etc.).

#11 Facial recognition

Deep learning, and its qualities in image analysis, is also being exploited for security, more specifically for facial recognition.

For what purpose? For example, to authorise employee access to secure areas or machines, or to automate employee time and attendance.

#12 Simulation and modelling

AI-based simulation and modelling help organisations to test complex scenarios, avoiding going through the risk box.

👉 If we take the case of industry, this involves creating virtual replicas of production lines, so that adjustments can be made (changing equipment, introducing a new procedure, etc.), without costly interruptions.

#13 Text-to-speech

With text-to-speech technology, companies can see text transformed into speech... as if by magic 🪄. Here's a handy feature for customer support, which then relies on voice assistants, available 24/7. Another benefit of this technology: improved accessibility to content for the visually impaired or dyslexic.

💡 Text-to-speech is now based on advanced phonetic models, which can adapt intonation and expressivity in an amazing way.

#14 Machine translation

We told you earlier that AI writes for you. What if it also translated these texts into the languages of your choice with just one click ?

This could greatly simplify commercial exchanges and make it easier to export your products (and all the communication that goes with them) across the five continents.

#15 Intelligent document filing

Let's conclude this list of use cases with a reminder of the extent to which artificial intelligence is revolutionising data management in business.

With AI, companies can automate the sorting and organisation of their documents, whether in text, image or PDF format.

👉 Various sectors, such as finance, insurance or legal, deal with a large number of documents (contracts, invoices, etc.) on a daily basis. As a result, they greatly appreciate this technology, which simplifies the archiving and retrieval of information.

Which companies are using artificial intelligence? 10 inspiring examples

You are now familiar with the main use cases for AI.

Now discover 10 concrete examples of how well-known companies are taking advantage of it, whether to :

• putting this technology to work for their customers;
• or improving their own internal processes.

#1 SAP (AI and business)

The German giant SAP, like many other software publishers, is now introducing artificial intelligence into its solutions, in order to offer its users tools that are in line with market developments and challenges.

🛠️ For example, by using SAP S/4HANA, a new-generation ERP, companies can manage their operations more efficiently. This solution integrates artificial intelligence and automation to optimise a number of operations, such as financial management and supply chain management.SAP S/4HANA's AI also enables organisations to analyse all their data in real time, even large volumes of data, to obtain a global view of their performance.

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#2 L'Oréal (AI and recruitment)

L'Oréal is a good example of a company using artificial intelligence for recruitment.

Indeed, we know that the brand relies on AI-powered tools to sort through CVs and study candidates' responses during video interviews.

💻 What's more, most recruitment software (ATS) now includes these technologies, designed to identify profiles more quickly and ensure they are compatible with the company's culture as well as the skills they are looking for.

#3 Orange (AI and customer service)

Orange has developed an intelligent voice assistant based on AI to improve the customer experience.

What's it called? Djingo.

Its mission? To answer customers' questions as if it were a human.

The icing on the cake is that this chatbot understands and interacts with its interlocutors in several languages, providing Orange customers with multilingual support 24/7.

#4 Netflix (AI and recommendations)

When we think of AI and recommendations , we inevitably think of Netflix, which is reputed to excel in this area.

Here, artificial intelligence begins by analysing user behaviour: what do they watch, when, on what device, for how long, etc.?

Then, using machine learning algorithms, Netflix adapts not only the content suggestions, but also the thumbnails displayed for the same film according to the customer's profile. Are you more of a romantic comedy fan? The poster will show a funny or romantic scene. More of a thriller fan? The user will see a dark and mysterious image of the same content. Amazing!

#5 Airbus (AI and industry)

Airbus is a perfect example of artificial intelligence in industry, used, among other things, to optimise aircraft production.

More specifically, like many factories, Airbus uses AI to adjust manufacturing schedules in real time, manage its logistics (anticipating delays in the delivery of parts in particular) and deploy a predictive maintenance process.

#6 Google (AI and search)

Google, with its Google Cloud AI, is one of the world leaders in the use of artificial intelligence.

We are also well aware of Google's propensity to use artificial intelligence to improve its search algorithms and, consequently, refine its personalised advertising.

Finally, there is the American giant's famous Google Assistant. Based on natural language processing technologies, it is now a commonly used tool in a multitude of homes and businesses.

#7 Amazon (AI and commerce)

When it comes to exploiting AI in e-commerce and warehouse management, Amazon is a pioneer.

Using intelligent robots and powerful IT systems, Amazon has dramatically reduced delivery times (setting new standards in consumers' minds) and continues to improve the overall efficiency of its stock management.

👉 Also worth noting is the use of AI to personalise product recommendations on its platform in a highly relevant way.

#8 Facebook (AI and advertising)

Facebook/Meta... here's another example of a company relying on artificial intelligence to refine its advertising algorithms.

As a result, businesses, as well as millions of other users of the social network, see targeted adverts flash by on a daily basis, based on analysis of their online behaviour.

👉 It's also worth noting that Meta has clearly grasped the benefits of artificial intelligence in its (titanic!) content moderation work.

#9 Carrefour (AI and logistics)

Carrefour uses AI in its logistics and stock management processes.

Using machine learning algorithms, the company accurately forecasts demand for products in its shops and optimises replenishment operations.

This prevents costly overstocking and avoids stock-outs, which make customers look bad.

#10 Société Générale (AI and stock market)

Let's finish with Société Générale, a perfect example of a company that uses artificial intelligence in the stock market, particularly as part of its trading services.

Its technology analyses stock market trends in real time to help investors make the right decisions. The bank also uses automated trading algorithms to execute transactions more quickly and with greater accuracy.

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Examples of artificial intelligence in business: what impact for today and tomorrow?

You now know the most common examples of artificial intelligence in business. Now all you have to do is take advantage of them!

However, while AI promises a host of advantages in terms of performance and innovation, it is not without its challenges. In fact, there are three major challenges facing professionals in their headlong rush to harness artificial intelligence:

• data protection, given the increasing volume of data being collected, data for which maximum levels of confidentiality must be guaranteed (under the RGPD, among other provisions);
• the fight against discrimination, since artificial intelligences sometimes help to convey biases and standardise ways of thinking;
• maintaining jobs, by supporting employees as their professions are transformed.

In the final analysis, artificial intelligence deserves to be deployed... intelligently. This means understanding both its challenges and its limits, with the aim of maintaining that touch of humanity that will win over customers.