Business owners are constantly being told they need to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) but, as with most new technologies, it can feel overwhelming to know where to begin.
To break down this barrier for local entrepreneurs, The Local Advantage with Peterborough County and IntegrAlign Partners are partnering to deliver a series of free AI training sessions in late September and early October in Keene, Bridgenorth, Cavan Monaghan, and Norwood.
Led by IntegrAlign founder Sherry Hill, the workshops are designed to introduce small business owners to practical uses of AI that will help them gain efficiency and grow their business.
“Companies tend to not see their blind spots, and there are a lot of opportunities for them to adopt robotics or technology or AI in order to make their lives easier, make them more efficient, and drive their revenue and profit,” Hill says. “If our businesses are not adopting AI, they’re going to become invisible, and on top of that, they will not stand out and be competitive.”
Hill founded IntegrAlign Partners to address the gap between strategy and integration for local businesses. Based in Douro-Dummer, the consulting firm helps businesses and organizations align operations, integrate systems, and implement solutions that focus on advanced technologies and AI.
Throughout the hands-on, judgment-free, and conversational sessions, business owners will get tailored insights and learn how incorporating AI can offer solutions their business needs.
This can include using AI to streamline staff training processes, improve marketing reach, quickly make presentations, and more. The workshops will also cover safe and ethical use of the technology.
“It’s not theoretical training on how to engineer a prompt,” say Hill. “This is about incorporating AI into the business to be successful, to be efficient, and to offer the best customer service, because that’s what’s going to make people stand out and that’s what’s going to make businesses thrive.”
Each workshop runs from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and will feature five two-hour sessions tailored to specific sectors: construction and trades (7:30 a.m.), small business operations (9:45 a.m.), tourism and hospitality (12 p.m.), health and wellness (2:15 p.m.), and non-profit and community (4:30 p.m.).
There is no prior knowledge or technical background required to attend the sessions, although participants are encouraged to come with their laptops and questions. Hill says small businesses owners can even bring their employees to ensure everyone is efficiently trained.
“I’m also there to dispel some of the myths that are out there,” says Hill. “You’re going to learn something that you didn’t even know that you didn’t know. We’re right there with you.”
The workshops are being held on:
- Wednesday, September 16 in the training room at Otonabee-South Monaghan Fire Department (21 Third St., Keene)
- Monday, September 21 at Bridgenorth Community Hall (836 Charles Street, Bridgenorth)
- Wednesday, September 30 at Cavan Monaghan Community Centre (986 County Road 10, Millbrook)
- Tuesday, October 6 at Asphodel Norwood Community Centre (88 Alma St., Norwood)
To learn more and register, visit events.ptbocounty.ca/ecdev.
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