Ramiro Quiros, from Movingtech.ai, provides a beginner’s guide to AI for moving companies.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming industries worldwide, and the moving and storage sector is no exception. If you feel like you’re falling behind or unsure where to start, this article is for you. The goal is to show how accessible AI can be and how your business can benefit from it. Let’s start with the basics - what AI is, how it’s applied, and simple steps to begin using it effectively.
What is AI?
At its core, AI refers to computer systems designed to mimic human intelligence by performing tasks such as problem-solving, learning, and decision-making. While AI has been around for decades - think of Microsoft Excel automating calculations - the difference today is how modern AI operates.
Modern AI comes pre-trained with large datasets, giving it a deep ‘understanding’ of its environment. It learns from new data, adapts to situations, and improves over time. Unlike traditional software, which relies on step-by-step instructions, AI evolves through feedback, making it more dynamic and versatile.
For example, let’s say you want a program to categorise customer e-mails into ‘urgent’, ‘follow-up’, and ‘info only’. With older software, you’d need a lot of very complex IF/THEN rules such as ‘IF the subject line contains 'urgent,' move it to the 'urgent' folder’; OTHERWISE, OR, etc. Every condition had to be explicitly defined, and any new scenarios required updates.
With AI, you simply ask, "Sort these e-mails into urgent, follow-up, and info only based on their content." AI analyses the text, detects patterns, and categorises intelligently. Over time, it learns and improves, requiring little manual adjustment.
Types of AI applications
AI spans various technologies, but at the risk of oversimplification, for the purpose of this article we may categorise AI tools into two main types:
1. General Assistants
General AI assistants, like ChatGPT, are versatile tools that handle a range of tasks but aren’t tailored to one specific purpose. They’re similar to hiring a new executive assistant - you provide them step-by-step requests and train them gradually to meet your preferences.
For instance, you wouldn’t ask a general assistant to "Complete Ms Smith’s move", as it wouldn’t know the steps. Instead, you could ask it to "Draft an e-mail to Ms Smith explaining her quote" or "Organise this list of items into a table, grouped by room, with cubic foot volumes".
2. Specific Purpose Tools
Specific-purpose AI tools are designed for defined use cases. They are built ‘on top of’ generic assistants and come pre-trained for specific tasks, often automating entire workflows.
For example, while no AI tool can yet ‘Complete Ms Smith’s move’, tools exist that handle parts of the process. Some AI tools can ‘Generate a survey summary’ or ‘Send a quote using a predefined tariff’. Others, such as task organisers, proactively prioritise to-do lists based on your schedule and input.
The Overwhelming Landscape of AI Tools
The rapid growth of AI has led to an overwhelming number of tools. My own compilation includes over 700 business-oriented AI applications, with new ones emerging daily. While this abundance offers opportunities, it can be challenging to identify which tools are valuable and useful to your needs. Not all AI tools are market-ready, and some fail to deliver on their promises. Careful evaluation is essential to find tools that truly add value.
How to Get Started with AI
If your company isn’t using AI or you’re unsure if your staff already are, here are three simple steps to get started:
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Assess current processes
Identify tasks that are ideal for AI: Repetitive, time-consuming, or involving data analysis. For example, you might focus on writing personalised responses to website enquiries or organising schedules.
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Find the right tool
Search online for AI tools related to your task. Use platforms such as Google.com, Perplexity.ai, or Reddit.com for recommendations and reviews. Simply search for “<Task you want to automate>” + “AI” (example “Personalised e-mail responding AI”). Compare trial options, key features, pricing, and, most importantly, data privacy policies.
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Test in low-risk areas
Start small by testing one or two tools for specific tasks. For example, use ChatGPT for drafting e-mails or try an AI-powered scheduling tool. Be open to experimenting and ready to discard if something doesn’t work. After every completed test, restart at step 1.
Final Thoughts
AI offers incredible potential to streamline operations. While the options can feel overwhelming, starting small and being deliberate in your approach will help unlock its benefits.
If you’d like to explore AI further, discuss its applications, or get recommendations tailored to your business, feel free to reach out. I’d be happy to help you navigate the AI landscape and find the right tools for your needs.
Ramiro Quiros
Ramiro is the founder and principal consultant at Movingtech.ai. He specialises in process engineering and technology implementation for businesses in the moving and storage industry. He has over 20 years of experience in the industry that he claims has given him a unique skill set, combining a deep operational understanding of moving companies coupled with hands-on knowledge of technology. His mission is to empower moving businesses globally, enabling them to harness the transformative power of technology to thrive in an increasingly complex digital world.
Photo: Ramiro Quiros.