Enterprise Nation and AI: Five ways we're boosting collaboration and productivity

At Enterprise Nation, our mission is to empower small businesses with the tools and knowledge they need to start, grow and scale.

As a small business, we’ve always been keen on exploring how new technologies can simplify and enhance our operations. Since the beginning of 2024, we’ve been delving into the transformative world of artificial intelligence (AI), aiming to leverage its potential to make our day-to-day business functions smarter and more efficient.

In early February, we released a comprehensive report highlighting the state of AI adoption among small businesses in the UK.

The findings revealed that while 57% of small and medium-sized businesses were exploring AI, many were struggling with the skills and confidence needed to implement these technologies effectively.

To bridge this gap, we’ve been actively integrating AI into our tools and workflows.

Here’s how we’ve been making the most of AI and how you can too.

1. Figma: Unlocking creativity with AI

Figma, a tool we use extensively for design, recently introduced its AI integration. This feature is designed to "unblock creativity" and streamline design processes.

For instance, if you're planning a brainstorming session or developing a user journey for your website, Figma's AI can generate a session plan or map out user flows based on your input. This not only speeds up the process but also helps in aligning your vision with actionable steps.

Generate a template or diagram for your next meeting

Improve collaboration and communication

Plans: Figma offers a free plan, enabling entrepreneurs to experiment with AI-enhanced design.

2. Asana: Streamlining project management

Project management is crucial for any growing business, and Asana has made this easier with its recent AI features. Since June, Asana’s AI has been helping us by suggesting ideal project templates, working backwards from timelines and optimising task management. This integration allows us to handle projects more efficiently, saving time and reducing the cognitive load of planning.

Asana Smart Digest

Asana programme template

Plans: Asana’s free tier provides a great starting point for small businesses to explore these benefits.

3. Zoom: Enhancing meeting productivity

Let’s face it — meetings can sometimes be a productivity drain. Zoom’s new AI assistant is a game-changer in this regard. It automatically summarises meetings and webinars, breaks recordings into chapters and prepares summary notes for easy sharing. This feature has been particularly useful for us, acting as the ultimate note-taker and ensuring that key points and action items are not lost in the shuffle.

Zoom Auto Generate Notes

Compose an agenda leveraging AI tailored to your team

Plans: Zoom offers a free version that includes this AI functionality, so you can try it out and see the difference it makes.

4. Canva: Boosting creativity with AI assistance

Canva’s AI tools have been a revelation for our marketing and design efforts. Their Magic Assistant helps generate compelling headlines and social media content, while Canva’s AI Art Generator assists in creating visually engaging graphics. Whether you’re looking for SEO-friendly headlines or eye-catching visuals, Canva’s AI can provide valuable assistance.

Canva Magic Write

Canva enhances existing imagery on your designs

Plans: Canva’s free membership tier allows access to these features, making it an excellent tool for small businesses to enhance their content creation.

5. Freshdesk: Answering member questions rapidly

Managing customer support efficiently is crucial for maintaining client satisfaction. At Enterprise Nation, we’ve leveraged Freshdesk’s AI functionality, known as Freddie, to streamline ticket management and response times. Freddie helps us triage support requests and provide quicker, more accurate responses to our community. This has significantly improved our support efficiency and allowed us to address user enquiries more effectively.

You can also generate help articles based on popular FAQs; Freddie will set this up on your behalf. You can then choose which ones feature on your website.

Train Freddie to learn your customers FAQ's

Generate solution articles for end users

Plans: Freshdesk’s AI features are available at various subscription levels, starting with a free plan.

By integrating AI into tools we already use as a team, we’ve enhanced our productivity and it's ensuring we're responding to end-user needs quickly. From design and project management to meetings, content creation and customer support, AI is a valuable asset for small businesses. The best part? You don’t need a team of developers to harness its power. Often, it’s just about turning on the right features and exploring what your existing tools can do.

If you’re curious about how we rolled out these AI integrations or need support implementing similar solutions, feel free to reach out to me through our platform. We’re here to help you make the most of AI when it comes to starting, growing and scaling your business.

Relevant resources

• Ellen Bishop: 'I’m sure there’s an AI tool for that'

• Enterprise Nation AI report for small businesses

• Natalie Sherman - AI in social media