NEW YORK — While many still believe that using artificial intelligence as a business tool is still years away from being beneficial — especially in a labor-intensive field such as dry cleaning — the truth is that it’s ready right now, and there will never be a better time to adopt it.
These are the views of Dawn Avery, executive director of the National Cleaners Association (NCA) during her online presentation “AI for Dry Cleaning Businesses: Exploring How Artificial Intelligence Can Enhance Marketing, Customer Service and Operations for Dry Cleaners.
“As someone who has worked hands-on with businesses like yours in the industry, I know AI is the future,” she says. “It can help you save time, boost your marketing, enhance your customer service and even improve your employee training.”
Time for Change
Avery started by reminding those attending the presentation of the past few times when technology has offered dry cleaners tools that might have seemed too “futuristic.”
“Way back in the olden days of the early 2000s, we came to you and said you needed to have a website,” she says. “And while many of you listened, just as many of you blew off what we were telling you. It then took the latter group a long time to catch up with the group who listened, and with the early adopters.”
Social media was the next step into the future.
“Around 2009, we came to you and said, ‘You needed to have, at the time, a Facebook page,’” she says. “Many of you believed it was just a fad, and no one was ever going to do any business on something like that. Now, people shop all the time on social media, so we know we’ve come a long way.”
Given the reluctance of many in the past to take advantage of new tools, Avery warns that artificial intelligence might be more important than either of the previously mentioned technologies.
“So now the third time’s the charm,” she says, “and I don’t want to scare you, but I want to tell you that if you don’t get on board with AI, you will be obsolete faster than any other time before. Things move so quickly in the space. As a small business owner, it’s so important for you to understand what the landscape is going to look like, and in a very short time.”
Instead of adding extra work, Avery says, these new tools will actually be a help in the operation of drycleaning businesses.
“You should begin adopting some of these tools and implementing them to ease your workload and understand that life is going to have a little different look with AI,” she says, “but it’s not something you should be afraid of. It’s definitely something you should embrace. AI has created a trifecta for business owners: They can use it to cut costs, save time and make sales.”
Terms and Stats for New Tech
Avery noted that there are some terms that might be helpful to know for discussions centering around this technology:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI): The simulation of human intelligence in machines programmed to think and learn like humans.
- Machine Learning (ML): Algorithms that learn from data to make predictions or decisions.
- Natural Language Processing (NLP): Technology that enables machines to understand and respond to human language.
- Computer Vision: Technology that allows machines to interpret and make decisions based on visual inputs.
“AI is a science of making machines that can think like humans,” Avery says. “They can do things that are considered smart, and can process large amounts of data in ways that humans can’t. The goal of AI is to be able to do things such as recognize patterns and make decisions, and there are some key technologies that are used, such as machine learning algorithms that can learn from data.”
This technology is already being put to work, both by individuals and businesses. Citing statistics generated by Reuters and by software development company Similarweb, one of the most popular platforms, ChatGPT, reached 100 million users within two months of its launch in 2022. For comparison, it took Instagram 2.5 months to reach this level, and Netflix 3.5 years. Currently, ChatGPT has about 180 million total users.
A demographic breakdown finds that the United States is making the most use of this tool, with 12.22% of users. The user base currently skews younger, with 60.97% of the visitors to OpenAI (the company that created and operates ChatGPT) being between 18 and 34, 17% between 30 to 44, 9% are 45 to 64 and 5% 65 and over. Also, the base is split between 54.11% male and 45.89% female.
And, while many aren’t seeking out this tech to use, most of us are indeed using it in our everyday lives.
“AI is already around us everywhere,” Avery says. “Think of Netflix recommendations or Amazon suggesting your next purchase. AI is in healthcare, diagnosing diseases faster than a human doctor. In the fashion industry, it’s being used to predict trends. So, now, imagine having that kind of power in your drycleaning business.”
Come back Thursday for Part 2 of this series, where we’ll examine some tools available to dry cleaners who want to leverage this technology.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Dave Davis at [email protected].
