In a significant technological advancement for Ashland's business community, Brett and Kate Lofing, founders of Howdy Owl, have teamed up with local tech company Brown Bacon AI to incorporate a generative AI system into their operations. Howdy Owl, known for its custom wall decor business, sprang from the couple's garage in Ashland in 2015 but quickly outgrew its initial setting and moved to a larger facility in Lincoln due to burgeoning demand. However, changes in Etsy's advertising strategies in 2021 instigated a sharp decline in their sales, prompting the Lofings to streamline operations and return to Ashland.
Facing the challenges of downsizing, especially in customer service, the Lofings saw the potential in Brown Bacon AI's innovative solution. Tony and Aimee Arnold, also Ashland residents, developed the patent-pending AI system known as SomAI. Initially designed to assist food-related businesses with customer queries, SomAI has been adapted to cater to Howdy Owl's needs. It responds to customer emails within approximately one minute, a critical feature in today's era of immediate consumer expectations.
Distinctive from other AI services like ChatGPT, SomAI generates responses strictly based on data provided by the business owner, ensuring focused and relevant customer interactions. This tailored approach prevents the collection of personal data from users, guaranteeing the customers' privacy. For Howdy Owl, all input fed into SomAI comes from its own website, making the AI's responses highly accurate and relevant.
Brett Lofing appreciates the flexibility and efficiency that SomAI offers, allowing him and Kate to dedicate more time to designing and fulfilling orders without the additional expense of hiring a dedicated customer service staff member. Operating on a subscription model, Brown Bacon AI provides packages that start at $500 per month, a cost-effective solution for many small businesses.
Despite a shift towards local sales, Howdy Owl continues to ship products nationwide. SomAI's advanced linguistic capabilities enable it to handle customer inquiries from different regions effectively, echoing the service quality that the Lofings strive to maintain. According to Brett Lofing, the AI's handling of regional dialects exemplifies its proficiency, sometimes offering responses that surpass human capabilities.
Apart from SomAI, Brown Bacon AI has developed another AI model named AImee, aimed at delivering basic medical information in a chatbot format. Aimee Arnold, who holds the unique title of Chief Wine Officer, envisions AI as a catalyst for entrepreneurial innovation, providing a path for aspiring business owners who lack the necessary resources or expertise to bring their ideas to life.
As technology continues its rapid evolution, business figures such as Brett Lofing are keen to harness its potential. Brett plans to eventually utilise SomAI as the driving force behind Howdy Owl's website search engine, further integrating AI into the core of their business strategy.
The collaboration between Howdy Owl and Brown Bacon AI illustrates the growing role of AI in small business operations, showcasing the potential for AI to streamline processes while enhancing service delivery.
Source: Noah Wire Services