Earlier this week SAS Institute headquarters in Cary was the site of a SMB Summit on AI. More than 100 executives from small- and medium-sized businesses were on hand to hear from SAS staff members and area businesses on how to leverage AI.
Practical advice on how to use AI in business was offered, and the conference included several keynotes and panel discussions on the subject.
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David Gardner, director of analytics at Boddie-Noell Enterprises, the largest Hardee’s franchise owner in the Southeast provided this advice: “Use AI in your business to not just find answers to your business problems, but also to discover questions you didn’t know you wanted to ask."
He cited an example where his company, using data analytics and AI, determined a need for a menu shift for breakfast, increasing that hours it is served that resulted in an increase in revenue.
Ben Zenick, chief technology officer of Zencos, agreed with Gardner, “AI is innovation and automation. It allows you discover questions that can solve your business problems.”
Jennifer Chase, executive vice president & chief marketing officer at SAS, gave advice to SMBs who want to start using AI, including understanding their data and where it is, then what outcomes you are hoping to achieve. She elaborates on these points in this video:
One of the highlights of the conference was the closing keynote from Danny Rosin, CEO and co-founder of Brand Fuel and the non-profit organization Band Together. Rosin offered the perspective of a business owner and non-profit leader in the Triangle on how to combine for-profit endeavors with community involvement, and what impact it has for businesses. Rosin discussed his philosophy in this video:
According to Jennifer Chase, SAS CMO, there are plans to hold the summit again next year.