Your clients need something
The world has changed. AI is no longer a futuristic concept confined to science fiction movies, it's here, it's powerful, it's accessible, and improving by leaps-and-bounds every month (or day?)
In 2024, millions of businesses - small, medium, and large - will be turning to their software development providers for one thing: AI.
Your Clients Need Something This Year - and it's AI ✨
Businesses are looking to understand how AI can provide them with value, and how to start planning an AI strategy. I know this for a fact, as I have helped multiple businesses with this recently.
They want advice on how AI can help their business run more effectively, efficiently, or to save costs. It’s up to us as development vendors to ensure we are across this, and can advise and implement the tools and practices needed to support this technical revolution.
Don't be scared 😳
I know many software developers and agencies that are reluctant to embrace AI. This may be because they are too busy, it's too fast moving, the simply because they don't know where to start.
But the one thing I know for sure is that we are at a turning point right now... And to be a software professional on the right side of history, I believe you should add AI engineering to your toolbelt, and be able to offer this as a service to your existing clients, and new clients.
AI Consulting: Guiding Your Clients 🤝
As dev agencies and freelancers, we need to understand the fast-moving AI landscape. We need to know what can be achieved, the safety and ethics involved, and how this can positively impact businesses. This means staying up-to-date with the latest advancements - or at least understanding what's now possible, attending AI events, meetups, and conferences, and importantly - actively learning and experimenting with new tools and models.
Businesses (potential clients) are desperate for guidance and advice, they want
- An expert technologist to help guide them (that can be you)
- Examples of how AI can be used to improve their specific business
- What are the potential risks and challenges right now
- What the future opportunities could be
I strongly recommend you step up, and make it your responsibility to be able to answer these questions, and to help businesses develop a realistic and achievable AI strategy.
AI Augmentation: Work Smarter, Not Harder 🤖
Beyond consulting, we need to ensure we are leveraging the best AI tools to deliver value better and faster. This isn't about replacing humans, it's about augmenting our existing skills and processes.
Some industry-leading AI tools that can help agencies and freelancers include:
- Github Copilot: This tool uses AI to suggest code completions and entire functions, which can significantly increase developer productivity.
- Wix Studio: This platform offers AI-powered website creation and management, specifically built for agencies and freelancers
- Userdoc: This AI-powered requirements management platform helps agencies and freelancers gather and manage project requirements more efficiently and effectively.
These are just a few examples, and new tools are being developed every day. By staying informed and experimenting with these tools, we can find ways to improve our workflows and deliver better results for our clients.
AI Implementation: Bringing AI to Life 🌱
Ultimately, it's up to us as the builders to implement AI-augmented and AI-forward services and products for our clients. There are so many possibilities, but some examples include
- Building AI-powered chatbots and agents to improve customer service and automate tasks.
- Developing custom software that leverages AI for data analysis and reporting.
- Integrating AI into existing systems to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
- Creating new AI-powered products and services for clients to sell or use internally.
The possibilities are endless, and the potential for innovation is immense. By embracing AI and integrating it into our offerings, we can help our clients achieve their goals and stay ahead of the curve.
AI is here to stay, and it's changing the world around us.
As development agencies and freelancers, we have a unique opportunity to leverage our skills and expertise to help businesses navigate this new landscape. By embracing AI consulting, augmentation, and implementation, we can add immense value to our clients and ensure our own businesses thrive in the years to come.