I pretty much only use AI for brainstorming ideas, or writing copy that doesn't need much heart or human-touch, or as a more comprehensive google search. I've tried using Square's AI but most of the time it doesn't answer my question properly.
At the end of the day, it's just a tool. I don't think it'll take over as much as people worry. We'll just have to adapt and refine our skills for things that truly only humans can do.
Reading through all these replies is amazing. I realize I'm not thinking outside the box, really utilizing AI to it's fullest or even it's halfest.
It still seems to come down to what do I ultimately need, what's the end goal? Then I can work backwards from that, using AI to get me to where I want to take my business. I'm the human driving the ship with AI as the spyglass.
For example currently I don't need stop counts or anything too crazy since we're just a little shop, but I could definitely see in the next ~5 years getting to the point where we should have processes like that and it should absolutely be automated. AI could automate or simplify that stop count process for us so it's not a burden to our workload.
Reading through what everyone else is doing with AI helps with my brainstorming for the future and assessing if there's anything I'm not currently using AI for that I could or should.
Hello,
1. I use it for posting advertisements and managing my inventory.
2. I track not just sales but also trends. For instance, I can ask how many beige couches were sold today and check on all my top-selling items throughout the day. Even though all my sales for the day are recorded after closing, I prefer to place orders beforehand. This way, I can monitor trends on what's popular and selling, including which colors are in demand.
I created a separate tab for ordering supplies, like cleaners and paper towels. I keep track of these items; my rule is that if they are half full, I need to restock. I don’t even have to be at the store to check. I could be at Costco, and I can simply ask about supplies, and there’s my list.
I must admit, I didn't set up my office system myself—someone else did that for me. However, as long as everything is properly entered, it pulls up the information I need. I use it for spell checking, inventory management, tracking trends, and maintaining a shopping list. I analyze daily sales compared to last week’s figures and keep track of new customers for the week. I compare the data from the day to the night, and it has been accurate as long as the inputs are correct. That's the biggest key I have found is entering it like you're going to ask it. If not the results are not correct.
I don’t use it frequently for customer interactions, but when I do, it’s usually for specific questions like, "What color rug would go best with a taupe couch and light tan curtains?" It provides suggestions, and I can show customers pictures. I'm selective about which customers I assist in this way because I still value that personal connection that differentiates small businesses from big box stores. That's where human judgment comes into play.
Overall, I think it’s a great tool, especially coming from someone who wasn't initially keen on AI. When used properly, it has saved me time, which translates to saving money. Hopefully, this helps. I could go on for pages about how much I do use it now.
Here I am back with another AI snippet that should be a built in tool in Square: Daily Cycle Count Generation!
This tool is a tool that will update a Google sheet with your catalog (assuming you used my API-Export code for your catalog in my signature) - Daily It will generate 20 inventory counts and send an email every day to anyone on a list of staff to be informed - I can then take my Square terminal or a phone logged into the app and quickly validate correct inventory from an export that auto exported my catalog & inventory a few hours before opening
@sargos in a perfect world with my Square for Retail subscription this should be built into my POS & Square Terminal - For me this will count my entire store 3 times a year. All vibecoded with AI - I am not a coder...Why can't Square do this?
