CHICAGO — As artificial intelligence (AI) tools rapidly mature and become more user-friendly, dry cleaners face a critical question: Which platforms offer the best return on investment, and how should they begin their AI journey?
In Part 1 of this series, we examined how some cleaners have discovered what AI can do for them in their everyday tasks, and in Part 2, we explored some of the surprising ways this technology can be put to use across their operations.
Today, we’ll conclude by looking at some of the AI platforms available to dry cleaners, as well as how to get started and what may come.
Choosing the Right Tools
When it comes to specific AI platforms, preferences vary among users. Sea Khun, administrative assistant at Dublin Cleaners in Columbus, Ohio, has mostly used ChatGPT in his workflow, finding that “it’s more robust, understands my intent better and already has a lot of our context baked in.” It also integrates with Make.com, a no-code development platform he uses.
“It’s like a senior programmer in your pocket,” he says, explaining that he can build custom applications on the platform through natural language conversations.
“You literally just talk to it,” Khun says. “Ask it, ‘I want to build this application to do X, Y and Z. Can you create a framework and then build it for me?’ And then it does that from scratch. It probably takes five or 10 minutes.”
Among the most popular AI platforms available to dry cleaners:
- OpenAI’s ChatGPT offers one of the most mature ecosystems, integrating well with business tools and excelling at code generation.
- Anthropic’s Claude is known for understanding nuance and context, making it particularly strong for business communication.
- Google’s Gemini seamlessly integrates with Google Workspace and focuses on research capabilities.
- Microsoft Copilot is built into the Office suite, assisting with document creation, email management and Excel analysis.
Practical Advice for Getting Started
For dry cleaners interested in exploring AI, Khun recommends starting small and focusing on immediate pain points.
“Start simple. Use it like a chatbot,” he says. “Just ask it questions, then apply it to things like emails, hiring posts or customer responses. Once you’re comfortable, start exploring automations and scripting.”
Rachelle Balanzat, CEO of Juliette, an upscale drycleaning service in New York City, suggests identifying a single problem area.
“Start with one issue,” she says. “Is it missed pickups? Customer follow-up? Inconsistent marketing? There’s likely a tool — and a playbook — for that.”
The approach of Robert Strong, president of California’s Country Club Cleaners, is similarly focused: “Find out what the customer’s pain point is, and then analyze to see, if I offered that service, how would it affect my company?”
Looking Ahead
The evolution of AI development — particularly in the past few months — suggests that current applications are just the beginning.
Khun points to the rapid pace of improvement: “I’m thinking that, at this moment in time, it’s the worst it’ll ever be. It’s only going to get better.”
Strong believes that the companies starting to implement AI now will maintain an edge through experience and refined processes.
“I see it as a tool for getting more work done,” he says. “My administrative people can get more done than they could before, but you still need humans.”
For Balanzat, the long-term vision extends beyond individual business operations.
“I want Juliette to be the invisible infrastructure behind the dry cleaners of tomorrow,” she says. “Whether it’s our brand or others partnering with us, I see a future where tech empowers small operators to thrive — with less effort and more profit.”
The Bottom Line
As AI tools become more accessible and more powerful, dry cleaners who embrace these technologies could find significant advantages in efficiency, customer service and company management.
As with any tool, the key to success lies not in adopting AI for its own sake, but in identifying specific business challenges where these tools can provide genuine value.
For an industry facing labor shortages, rising costs and evolving customer expectations, AI could offer a path forward that provides immediate returns without requiring massive capital investments or technical expertise.
“You speak to it in plain language, no matter what tool it is,” Khun says. “The developers of these AI platforms want people to use their systems as easily as possible.”
For Part 1 of this series, click HERE. For Part 2, click HERE.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Dave Davis at [email protected].
