502 reads

How Can AI Improve Sustainable Business Communication?

by April Miller May 30th, 2024

Too Long; Didn't Read

When harnessed correctly, AI can dramatically enhance communication, internally and externally. The responsible use of AI in business communication demands ethical considerations and a balance between automation efficiency and people-centered approaches. Successful human-AI collaboration is already well underway and yielding impressive results. The financial implications are astounding, with poor communication costing enterprises $1.2 trillion annually.

featured image - How Can AI Improve Sustainable Business Communication?

Cases of artificial intelligence in business are appearing at an unprecedented rate and show no signs of slowing down any time soon. When harnessed correctly, AI can dramatically enhance communication, internally and externally. New forms enhance productivity and free up time for the in-depth elements of information transmission, like generating content and improving accessibility for individuals with disabilities.

The responsible use of AI in business communication demands ethical considerations and a balance between automation efficiency and people-centered approaches. Still, successful human-AI collaboration is already well underway and yielding impressive results.

The Cost of Poor Communication

Effective communication is the foundation of corporate success. When employees struggle to communicate well — whether with one another or with customers — the company suffers from the resulting misunderstandings and lack of alignment. The financial implications are astounding, with poor communication costing enterprises a whopping $1.2 trillion yearly.

Written communication has been particularly problematic, especially in today’s changing socio-political landscape. For instance, 71% of knowledge workers find it challenging to choose the appropriate words to avoid sounding offensive. Many also struggle to strike the right balance between sounding too formal and too casual when communicating with colleagues and clients.

Improving Sustainable Business Communication Through AI

Adopting AI can address existing challenges in the workplace and enhance how people share information in several ways.

Team Interaction and Meeting Tools

AI meeting assistants are revolutionizing note-taking, leading to more effective communication among team members. Platforms like Otter.ai, ClickUp, Gong.io, and Fireflies.ai have become mainstays in remote meetings, saving valuable time and effort. These AI-enabled tools offer a wide selection of intuitive features, including the ability to transcribe speeches with over 95% accuracy, highlight key points, and even analyze emotional tones.

Automated note-taking also frees up personnel to listen more intently during meetings. The generated notes are easier to disseminate, reducing the chances of misunderstandings since everyone has access to the same information.

Personalized Communication

Many CRM providers are integrating AI into their platforms to enhance customer communications. AI can analyze massive amounts of customer data, providing valuable insights that drive decision-making, especially about how and when to communicate.

These systems’ ability to imitate how humans learn based on knowledge and experiences allows them to tailor interactions to suit each client. Personalized communication is crucial to higher response rates and engagement, as people tend to pay closer attention to messages catering to their specific requirements.

Language Translation

Digital technologies have facilitated borderless working conditions where people across multiple countries can collaborate on the same project simultaneously. However, while that is great for diversity and inclusion, language barriers remain a significant problem, and communication suffers as a result.

AI-powered translators help bridge the divide and make it easier for individuals and organizations to communicate effectively. With high accuracy and near-instant results, these tools will be pivotal in shaping how brands interact with employees and clients worldwide. For example, Meta’s multilingual machine translation AI can translate between any pair of 100 languages directly. This unlocks a broader target audience for firms since customers on the other side of the globe can easily understand marketing messages and related content.

Enhanced Chatbot Functionality

A recent survey shows that 56% of businesses use AI in customer support functions, especially for enhancing chatbot functionality to serve consumers better. Sophisticated bots can now respond intelligently to user inquiries by leveraging advanced analytics and machine learning capabilities.

These systems also make it easier for customers to communicate with them. For instance, AI-powered bots can analyze user-provided voice input or provided text to make sense of the request and formulate smart responses.

Unlike rule-based bots, AI chatbots are context-aware and can learn continuously from prior interactions, making them increasingly intelligent with every interaction. Soon, people will likely not know the difference between chatting with a human CSR agent and a machine.

Natural Language Processing (NLP) Algorithms

NLP saves employees from spending too much time trying to navigate an ever-expanding field of potentially offensive expressions. They can simply ask the AI tool to create and convey the message correctly. This feature also enables businesses to utilize AI tools to generate relevant, targeted content at scale. Marketing teams can personalize pieces to align with specific audience segments and foster stronger relationships.

Leverage AI to Enhance Business Communication.

As enterprises continue to adopt data-driven processes, AI will hugely impact how they communicate with their personnel and customers. Automation and ML technologies are powerful tools that can augment and complement human communication. Leaders must recognize this game-changer if they intend to maintain their innovative edge.