AI – how craftsmen benefit in their everyday business

Crafts 4.0: Artificial intelligence (AI) may still be in its infancy, but craftspeople can already benefit from digital support. What specific profitable applications are there for businesses?

This article is part of the special feature on digital craftsmanship.

The use of artificial intelligence will significantly change the world of work in the coming years. Tradespeople can also benefit from the use of AI – for example, in office work and accounting , production , operational processes , and customer service . With AI support, businesses primarily achieve optimized processes , greater efficiency , and improved competitiveness.

Many companies plan to leverage these advantages in the future: According to a representative survey conducted by the digital association Bitkom in September 2023, over two-thirds of all companies with more than 20 employees consider AI to be the most important technology of the future . While only 15 percent of companies are currently using artificial intelligence productively, the growth rates are steadily increasing. By comparison, just a year ago it was only nine percent.

According to a survey by the digital association Bitkom, more than two-thirds of all companies with more than 20 employees rate AI as the most important future technology.

Machine learning with data

But what is artificial intelligence – and how does it work? AI is the ability of systems to replicate human intelligence . This means AI can learn from experience by recognizing patterns and thus react flexibly to new situations . For machine learning, AI primarily needs algorithms and as much data as possible, which it analyzes and links together. One of the best-known tools using artificial intelligence is ChatGPT (Generative Pretrained Transformer): Many companies already use this chatbot in their daily operations, especially for writing , shortening , correcting, or translating business texts.

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Know customer behavior in advance

Other AI systems predict typical customer behavior or analyze processes and workflows. One example is BäckerAI : The software uses over 150 different factors to determine the ideal order quantity of raw materials and goods for each individual branch . These influencing factors include the weather, the day of the week, holiday periods, and previous sales figures. In this way, raw materials, energy, and the time required for operational planning in bakeries are reduced – while ensuring optimal product availability.

However, there are also warehousing providers who implement a kind of "learning warehouse" for businesses. In this system, AI analyzes not only customer ordering behavior but also machine utilization and resource consumption in order to make automated decisions. This continuously optimizes resource planning and makes order volume more predictable.

The potential applications of artificial intelligence are far more diverse: Accounting, as well as quotations and invoicing, can also be largely automated with the help of AI. Another area is the monitoring of machine conditions by AI to prevent disruptions in production. AI can also be used at the end of the production chain – for example, in quality control . Based on predefined characteristics, it can reliably detect production errors and correct them if necessary. AI chatbots on company websites are now almost standard practice for many businesses , relieving the burden on customer service staff.

AI launch with expert know-how

These examples demonstrate the high potential of artificial intelligence in craft businesses . Especially in times of skilled labor shortages, AI can become a crucial factor in maintaining competitiveness – because AI support will give employees more time for core business activities in the future.

If tradespeople want to implement AI-supported tools and processes in their own businesses, they should begin with a detailed analysis of how and in which areas their company can benefit from artificial intelligence. An important prerequisite is the company's current level of digitalization – because AI systems are of little use if there are too many analog processes. Consulting an experienced AI expert is recommended before implementation.

In addition to the Chambers of Skilled Crafts, the nationwide Mittelstand-Digital Centers ( mittelstand-digital.de ) are a good starting point , providing free and vendor-neutral support to business owners.

Checklist: Implementing AI solutions in your own company

Ziele defines
Why should AI be used in a company? For example, to compensate for a shortage of skilled workers, optimize processes, support office tasks, increase efficiency, or relieve the burden on customer service employees?

Involve employees
What do employees want from AI solutions? Which recurring tasks are time-consuming? Where do individual team members want specific support from AI?

Check requirements
Is your company digitally well-positioned and therefore ready for the introduction of AI technologies? This includes, among other things, data availability, IT infrastructure, data protection and security, employee qualifications, and corporate culture.

Develop a strategy
In which areas of your company do AI solutions make sense under the given circumstances? How and by what means can desired goals be achieved? What resources and investments are necessary? Can an existing AI solution be used on the market, or does a custom solution need to be developed? What is the relationship between costs, benefits, and risks? Who should manage and implement the AI ​​project?

Implement project
After the AI ​​solution has been developed and/or integrated into existing systems and processes, its functionality, reliability, and security should be thoroughly tested and optimized as needed – ideally initially in a test environment. This is followed by integration into ongoing operations.

Train employees
The entire team should be informed about the goals, benefits, and challenges of using AI. Training sessions can be used to specifically educate employees on how to operate and monitor AI solutions. Depending on the AI ​​solution, existing workflows may need to be changed or adapted. Employees need sufficient time to adjust to this.

Evaluate results
Regular analyses can determine whether the company is truly achieving its desired goals with AI solutions. If necessary, optimization should be carried out to further improve efficiency or define new requirements.

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