In today’s fast-paced business environment, making data-driven decisions is more important than ever. However, with the increasing amount of raw data flowing into businesses every day, it can be challenging to extract meaningful insights efficiently. This is where AI Builder, a tool within the Microsoft Power Platform, comes in. It empowers businesses to transform raw data into actionable insights with little to no coding, making AI accessible to everyone.
In this article, we’ll dive into the capabilities of AI Builder, how it helps businesses make smarter decisions, and some real-world examples of how it can be integrated with Power Platform tools and third-party solutions.
What is AI Builder?
AI Builder is a powerful tool that allows businesses to build, train, and deploy AI models directly within the Microsoft Power Platform ecosystem. With AI Builder, you can take your data – whether it’s from forms, text, or historical patterns – and turn it into something that drives smarter decisions. Whether you’re looking to automate manual processes, predict outcomes, or enhance customer interactions, AI Builder provides the tools you need to make the most of your data.
Key Capabilities of AI Builder
AI Builder comes equipped with several pre-built AI models and capabilities that businesses can leverage immediately. These capabilities help turn raw data into smart, actionable insights.
1. Form Processing
One of the standout features of AI Builder is Form Processing, which can help automate data extraction from documents. Whether you’re processing invoices, contracts, or surveys, AI Builder’s form processing model allows you to extract key data points from unstructured data (like PDFs or scanned images) and turn it into structured, usable information.
For example, if your business regularly processes invoices, AI Builder can automatically read and extract key details such as the vendor name, date, and total amount. This reduces manual data entry, saving time and reducing the chances of errors.
2. Text Recognition
AI Builder also includes Text Recognition, which can extract text from images, making it incredibly useful for businesses that deal with handwritten forms, receipts, or images with printed text. This capability can read printed and handwritten text from images and convert it into machine-readable data.
For example, you could use this feature to scan receipts or documents and automatically capture the text for record-keeping or analysis. Text recognition can be seamlessly integrated into Power Apps or Power Automate to build efficient workflows around scanned data.
3. Predictive Analytics
With Predictive Analytics, AI Builder allows you to forecast future trends and make informed decisions based on historical data. Businesses can train predictive models to forecast outcomes like sales trends, customer churn, or demand forecasting. By using your existing data, AI Builder can identify patterns and make predictions that would be time-consuming or difficult to spot manually.
For instance, if you’re running a retail business, AI Builder’s predictive analytics can help forecast which products are likely to be in high demand, allowing you to optimize inventory and make data-driven purchasing decisions.
Making Smarter Decisions with Prebuilt and Custom Models
AI Builder comes with both prebuilt models and the ability to create custom models tailored to your business’s specific needs.
• Prebuilt Models: These are ready-to-use models designed for common business needs. For example, you can use prebuilt models for sentiment analysis (to gauge customer feelings from reviews or social media), object detection (to identify specific items in images), or form processing (to automatically extract data from documents). These models are user-friendly and can be deployed quickly without any coding expertise.
• Custom Models: If your business has unique needs, AI Builder allows you to create custom models based on your data. With custom models, you can define the exact variables and parameters that matter most to your business and use them to make predictions or automate workflows.
For example, a custom model could be used to predict employee turnover by analysing historical HR data, allowing your business to take proactive steps to retain top talent.
Examples of AI Builder in Action
AI Builder integrates seamlessly with other Power Platform tools, providing businesses with a unified ecosystem for building AI-powered applications, automating workflows, and making informed decisions.
1. Power Automate + AI Builder
You can integrate AI Builder with Power Automate to create automated workflows that trigger based on AI predictions or extracted data. For example, using AI Builder’s form processing, you can set up an automation to send an approval request email whenever a new invoice is received. The AI model will automatically extract data from the invoice, and Power Automate will initiate the approval process, saving significant time and effort.
2. Power Apps + AI Builder
With Power Apps, businesses can create custom applications, and by incorporating AI Builder, they can enhance these apps with AI-driven features. For example, imagine a retail app where customers can scan product barcodes to check stock levels. AI Builder’s object detection could be used to identify products from images or barcodes, providing users with real-time data on product availability.
3. Third-Party Integrations
AI Builder also allows you to integrate third-party data sources into your AI models. For example, you can integrate data from external sources like CRM systems or databases into your predictive models to get a more comprehensive view of customer behaviour or sales trends. By combining AI Builder with these external systems, businesses can ensure they’re working with the most up-to-date data available to make more accurate decisions.
How AI Builder Helps Businesses Make Data-Driven Decisions
AI Builder takes your business’s data, turns it into meaningful insights, and integrates it directly into your workflows and applications. This helps businesses:
• Automate Repetitive Tasks: Whether it’s processing forms, scanning images, or extracting data, AI Builder reduces manual effort, saving time and minimizing errors.
• Make Predictions: With predictive analytics, businesses can make informed decisions based on data trends, allowing them to anticipate needs and avoid potential pitfalls.
• Improve Customer Experiences: By using AI to enhance apps or automate workflows, businesses can provide more efficient, personalized customer interactions.
• Streamline Operations: AI Builder helps businesses optimize workflows and operations, from automating invoice processing to improving inventory management.
Ready to Transform Your Business with AI?
AI Builder is a game-changer for businesses looking to make smarter, data-driven decisions while streamlining their processes. Whether you’re automating tasks, analysing data, or predicting future trends, AI Builder offers the tools you need to take your business to the next level.
If you’re ready to unlock the full potential of AI for your business, greensparx is here to help. Our team of experts can guide you through setting up and integrating AI Builder with your existing systems to ensure you make the most of your data.
Contact greensparx today to learn how AI can transform your business processes and help you make smarter, data-driven decisions.
