IS AI THE NEXT BIG STEP FOR YOUR CHARITY?

By: / Chariot, News / Comments Off on IS AI THE NEXT BIG STEP FOR YOUR CHARITY?

You can’t make it through the day without interacting with some sort of technology. It’s probably there with you from the moment you wake up – your phone is probably your alarm clock, after all! But something we come across often, whether we realise it or not, is artificial intelligence (AI). 

 

When we think of AI, it might conjure images of extremely intelligent robots or self-driving cars. But these are more extreme examples. We also use AI to ask Siri what the weather will be during the weekend. 

 

A huge reason it’s so common is because it’s incredibly useful and saves us time. In the coming years, it’s going to become an even greater part of our businesses, including in the charity sector. But what ways can we use it to help us right now?

 

Social media monitoring

 

You can have the best social media content, but if you post in the wrong place or at the wrong time, no one will see it. And that’s where AI comes in. Bots analyse current social media trends and can predict when a piece of content might go viral. With so many people posting on social media (there are 6,000 tweets per second on Twitter, for example) it’s easy for your content to go unseen. Having a bot analyse what time is best for you to post your content can take your marketing efforts much further.

 

But AI bots can track more than that. Users online want speedy responses more than ever. 79% of customers expect a response within 24 hours. And 40% expect one in just an hour. AI gives you crucial data you can use to see what people need help with the most and at what times. How you use that data ties into our next entry…

 

Chatbots

 

Not every conversation with a customer has to be handled by someone on your team. The great part about the data we mentioned above is you can use it to set up a chatbot. These simulate human conversations to help people on your website; you might have seen one pop up when you’re browsing. They can give the potential customer important information, redirect them to another section of the website, or just start a conversation a team member can pick up later.

 

But chatbots aren’t limited to your website. The Children’s Society trialled a chatbot on Facebook to answer questions about their fundraising. And Missing People, Children In Need, and NSPCC teamed up to create ‘Is This Ok?’ with great success. The chatbot was launched to offer support for young at-risk people. In just three weeks, 600 young people got in touch, 10% of which did so out-of-hours. The chatbot was integral in supporting them during a time when they wouldn’t have been able to contact anyone else. 

 

Smart assistants

 

Smart assistants are a kind of software installed in a device to perform tasks and services and answer questions. Think Cortana, Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant. But smart assistants aren’t limited to personal use – they can help optimise workflow by handling easier tasks so your employees can focus on doing what they do best.

 

Some charities have started using smart assistants to make donations easier. With Alexa, you can now donate to NSPCC. And, to provide support for those living with arthritis, Arthritis Research UK created a smart assistant for people living with the condition.

 

AI can not only help us streamline our days, but it can also offer help and support to those who need help. It can be an extremely powerful tool for your charity and transform the way you and your operation work. 

 

Looking to transform your charity? Nisyst’s HMRC-approved EPoS system allows you to access all the important information you need, like sales data, profits, Gift Aid, and more. For more information, get in touch on 01204 706 000.