n running your pet resort, you’ve probably noticed how much time gets eaten up by admin work, customer questions and trying to stay on top of marketing. And you likely didn’t get into this business to answer emails all day. This is where AI can seriously change the game…because it isn’t just for tech companies anymore.
Tools like ChatGPT, Claude and Google’s Gemini are making it super easy for small businesses—especially in the pet care space—to get more done without adding to your plate. According to McKinsey & Company, businesses using AI for operations can improve productivity by up to 40%.1 In addition, Goldman Sachs predicts AI could eventually automate about 25% of all work tasks.2 And that’s not some far-off future—that’s now!
This is where an always-available AI receptionist can dramatically improve your customer experience and provide more knowledgeable information. With tools that answer phone calls, respond to basic questions, take reservations and follow-up with clients, you don’t even have to lift a finger. They can greet callers, check availability and provide info about your services 24/7. No more missed calls or weekend voicemails piling up! And the best part is, they don’t take breaks, call in sick or ask for time off during the holidays, therefore saving you money.
- Write SOPs: Just tell it what the process is and it will organize it into a clear, step-by-step document. Need a staff training guide? Maybe a cleaning checklist? Done in minutes!
- Create Emails: Whether it’s a promo, a holiday reminder or a price update, these tools can write compelling email drafts for you to tweak and send. No more staring at a blank screen.
- Respond to Reviews: Copy and paste the review into ChatGPT and ask it to write a polite, professional response. You can even ask it to match your brand’s tone—whether it’s warm and friendly or straight and professional, it’s smart enough to tailor the tone to fit your brand’s voice.
- Social Media and Content Made Easy: Need blog posts, Instagram captions or monthly newsletters? AI can crank out content fast. You just need to give it a few details about your business, and in return it will give you solid drafts to build from.
- Automate Mundane Tasks: These tools can summarize meeting notes, generate to-do lists, and even organize your weekly schedule. Basically, if it’s repetitive and you hate doing it, AI can probably help.
- Team Management: If you’ve got staff to manage, use it to create performance reviews, put together onboarding materials, or even generate staff quizzes for training.
AI is here and it’s not coming to take over and put us all out of jobs. It’s here to help you better leverage your time and help you get out of the weeds of your business so you can focus on taking the best care of the pets and people you serve.
- McKinsey & Company. (2023). The economic potential of generative AI: The next productivity frontier. McKinsey Digital. https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/the-economic-potential-of-generative-ai-the-next-productivity-frontier
- Goldman Sachs. AI may start to boost US GDP in 2027. (2023). Goldman Sachs. https://www.goldmansachs.com/insights/articles/ai-may-start-to-boost-us-gdp-in-2027
Fern is the founder of Overdog Digital, a digital marketing & consulting agency that helps dog daycare and boarding facilities attract, convert, and keep more customers by creating winning marketing campaigns and providing the business guidance to build momentum and spark long-term growth. Fern also has programs to train daycare staff, is a dog behavior consultant, and has a dog training business in New Jersey. He is the author of eight books and a popular speaker at national conferences and private events. To join The Dog Daycare Business Think Tank or ask a question, go to: www.facebook.com/groups/dogdaycarethinktank