3 Ways Artificial Intelligence Can Help Your Business.

AI can help you to easily analyze every single piece of information produced digitally by any competitor; anything from online content, social media posts and written content to videos uploaded.
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Outstanding developments in technology mean that new and existing businesses have access to new ways of running and developing their companies. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is just one example of the breakthroughs in helpful and immersive technology; other examples include Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality.

With so many options out there, it can sometimes be difficult to know how specific technology can help your business in the best way; so here are 3 ways Artificial Intelligence can help.

Improve Your Customer Relationship Management

Good management of your customer data is imperative for the smooth running of your business. An adept CRM system is able to gather data across all the relevant channels, such as email, social media, and phone communication, in order to present you with the best way to improve the overall sales process.

You can now access CRM systems which use Artificial Intelligence to better help the process, with AI analyzing all customer feedback from all communication outlets and being able to adjust marketing strategies to better suit the information gathered.

This means that AI can provide relevant insights into customer activity and feedback, meaning you can optimize your entire sales process for the better, thanks to AI.

Good management of customer data is imperative for the smooth running of your business
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Use a Chatbot For Your Website

You’ve undoubtedly had experience with a chatbot before, they are commonly found on websites in the form of a small pop-up box in the corner of the screen asking if you need any help.

Artificial Intelligence can be used as a robotic customer service tool, programmed to help with any customer questions when visitors are exploring your website. It’s a very helpful tool, as it means customer communication is promptly initiated, and that there is always a customer service representative available from your business, 24 hours a day – even if that rep is robotic.

AI helps you better track the activity of your competitors and see exactly what they are doing, at any time
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This is a particularly effective option for those businesses which are just starting out or have a very small team, meaning a sales team might not have been established yet; an AI chatbot can help fill in the gap in human employees.

If you’re looking to further your understanding of AI in order to better implement it into your business or future career, you can fulfill a Masters in electrical and computer engineering online, which focuses on the future development of technology such as AI robotics.

A CRM system is able to gather data across all the relevant channels, such as email, social media, and phone
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Gather Relevant Research on Your Competitors

Competitor research is a primary focus and ongoing process for any business, especially those start-ups which are new to the market. However, competitor research can be very time-consuming and often difficult to navigate; and that’s where Artificial Intelligence comes in.

AI can help you to easily analyze every single piece of information produced digitally by any competitor; anything from online content, social media posts and written content to videos uploaded. AI also helps consolidate all this feedback into an easy-to-navigate report. AI helps you better track the activity of your competitors and see exactly what they are doing, at any time.

Artificial Intelligence can be used as a robotic customer service tool
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The post Supercharging Business Intelligence with AI appeared first on Tech Trends.

With the Virtual Reality boom we’re seeing more courses popping up to train people hoping to get a job in the industry, but is it worth it? 

Recently, Google, Apple and IBM became the latest companies to join a trend of no longer requiring a university degree from prospective candidates.

This is pretty huge. After all we’re talking companies that receive thousands of CVs every day, and they can afford to be very picky. So it’s not a matter of cutting corners in order to fill vacancies, but a recognition that the way in which we’re acquiring, maintaining and developing our skills has dramatically changed.

There is no greater spark to creativity than rallying a diverse group of intelligent people around an exciting new medium
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Photos by Ana Escobar

Having invested many years of my life in both undergraduate and graduate education, I find myself conflicted about it. I would not have done without the experiences and knowledge that going to university afforded me, but I always worked alongside my studies, so it’s often hard to unpick how the skillsets and knowledge base I have today came to be formed exactly. And that is only going to become even more difficult for future generations as online and virtual learning, self-directed and lifelong, becomes the norm.

Which is why it’s somewhat ironic to see more and more universities offering VR degrees to teach future generations how to build those very same virtual learning environments. One recent one I came across is the MA Virtual Reality from London College of Communication, UAL which claims to be one of the first of its kind in Europe. They’re set to follow up with a BA (Hons) Virtual Reality next year

The features offered include dedicated Virtual Reality classrooms equipped with state-of-the-art hardware and software to enable students to bring their projects to life by filming, sculpting, and animating in VR
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Those professionals might build virtual environments to facilitate creative interactions without the need for anybody to physically attend university
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The features offered include dedicated Virtual Reality classrooms equipped with state-of-the-art hardware and software to enable students to bring their projects to life by filming, sculpting, and animating in VR. And while it could be argued that the cost of buying a Rift or VIVE headset is significantly lower than that of a degree, the added facilities such as motion capture suits, infinity cove green screen, and software licenses does add up to a more attractive-sounding package.

However, the focus of this degree is quite rightly on developing creative and storytelling skills. This is very much what is needed in the realm of VR content production – engaging, emotionally compelling experiences – and this is arguably where the university model still has a very relevant role to play.

The focus of this VR degree is quite rightly on developing creative and storytelling skills
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In my case, for example, I’ve always been quite effective at directing and managing my own learning, but found that during the course of my MA at Warwick University the project work and the relationships I built with my colleagues and tutors helped to spark ideas that I would not have had if my interaction had been limited to absorbing information via books or a computer screen.

There is no greater spark to creativity, it turns out, than bringing a very diverse group of intelligent people together and rallying them around an exciting new medium. If universities can provide that , they might very well graduate some amazing VR professionals in the next few years. The irony is then that those professionals might very well build such amazing virtual environments and experiences as to facilitate that sort of interaction without the need for anybody to physically attend university. Enter the world of Ready Player One.

This article originally appeared in The Next Web

Should you study VR at university? https://t.co/DjYoxkggxh

— TNW Contributors (@TNWcontributors) August 23, 2018

For companies looking to get into Immersive technologies such as VR/AR/MR/XR our Virtual Reality Consultancy services offer guidance and support on how best to incorporate these into your brand strategy.

Alice Bonasio is a VR Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedInand follow @alicebonasioon Twitter.

The post Going to Virtual Reality University appeared first on Tech Trends.