Business
The Age of AI: How it Might Impact Your Salon
Nov
While AI (Artificial Intelligence) may be a controversial and sometimes touchy subject, it appears to be here to stay. AI is growing and expanding in ways that some may have never imagined it could, but what does that mean for you, your salon, and the industry as a whole? It’s no secret that some people feel threatened by the rise of AI -those in the creative industry have the most to worry about, as more people begin to rely on AI to generate images and video rather than asking a human artist- but what changes might technology bring to your salon? What does that mean for you and your team? How can you benefit from some of the automation that AI can bring to the table? We’re here to discuss some of these questions and concerns, so let’s get started:
WHERE DOES AI BELONG?
AI can be a great tool to automate certain parts of your business, but it’s important to keep an eye on how things are working. While AI can help track sales figures on products, keep track of inventory, and help with booking and appointments, it’s not infallible. Sometimes it can slip up or “hallucinate” (the term for when AI outputs false information.) It might be tempting to let the computer do all the technical work, but it still needs a human touch to make sure everything is right.
That said, AI programs can help with online booking, making sure that appointments don’t overlap or conflict, and if utilized properly it can help track and recommend inventory changes. It can even assist with team scheduling, but that still needs the human eye to verify that things are going smoothly as well.
WHERE DOES IT NOT?
One thing that AI can’t replace is the face-to-face human interaction that you have with your clients. It can’t build the kind of rapport that you can through casual conversation or through building trust with your clients over time. While online booking can be simplified using AI programs, it’s important that you still give your clients the option to book over the phone or in person. In such cases you can input the information into the program yourself while giving your client the interaction that they desire.
Another place where AI should not be used is in the creation of marketing materials or social media content. Keen observers tend to know the difference between something made by a person and something made by AI, and using AI generated images or even text can raise some red flags. Generated images can make it seem like you’re trying to make your work look better than it is when your work does better speaking for itself through genuine photographs or video.
AI is not a replacement for the human touch, nor should it be. It can help you streamline some of the more tedious processes so that you can focus on your clients and your team, but it should not be relied upon for more than is logical.
DO YOU NEED TO WORRY?
Although AI programs can help streamline some of the processes you use in your business, it can’t replace what you actually do. It can’t install hair extensions, can’t refine a style that perfectly suits your client’s face shape and/or budget, and it certainly can’t earn the same level of trust that you can with your clients. While some industries have some things to fear from the rise and improvements in AI, the beauty industry probably won’t be impacted quite as strongly. You work with your hands, with skills that you’ve cultivated over time; AI can’t do that.
