How AI Can Help Your Business Work Smarter

How AI Can Help Your Business Work Smarter

Overview

AI is moving quickly, but for many local businesses the biggest question isn't “What can AI do?”

It's:

“What could AI actually take off my plate?”

As part of the Google Data Centre Community AI Fellowship, this practical Basecamp event will explore how local SMEs and organisations can use AI to improve everyday operations, save time, increase productivity and create new opportunities for growth.

We'll look beyond the hype and focus on practical, accessible ways to put AI to work across your business, from handling enquiries and reducing admin to customer engagement, marketing and workflow automation.

You'll also hear how these ideas are being applied in the local hospitality sector through a live demonstration of TablePulse, an AI tool helping independent restaurants capture enquiries, re-engage customers and make better use of quiet periods.

What you will learn

You'll explore practical ways AI can help your organisation:

• Reduce repetitive administrative work.
• Capture and respond to customer enquiries more quickly.
• Automate routine communications and follow-ups.
• Identify opportunities to improve sales and customer engagement.
• Turn existing business processes into more efficient AI-powered workflows.
• Give your team more time to focus on customers and higher-value work.
• Introduce AI safely, with appropriate human oversight and clear boundaries.

You don't need to be an AI expert. We'll focus on real business problems and practical solutions, not technical theory.

Live example: TablePulse

To demonstrate what this can look like in practice, we'll take a closer look at TablePulse, a conversational AI and guest-engagement platform built for independent restaurants.

Restaurants are a useful example because they often have a very visible operational challenge: a business can be completely full on Saturday while having significant unused capacity on quieter days.

TablePulse uses AI to help restaurants address some of the gaps that contribute to lost bookings and revenue.

You'll see how it can:

• Answer routine calls and booking enquiries.
• Capture opportunities when staff are busy.
• Send booking reminders and follow-ups.
• Re-engage previous customers with personalised messages.
• Help restaurants promote quieter periods.
• Assist with review responses while keeping staff in control.

The point isn't that every business needs TablePulse.

The point is to demonstrate what happens when you take a real business problem and ask: “Could AI handle some of this?”

We'll use the example to explore how the same thinking can be applied to other businesses and organisations.

Who should attend

This event is for local:

• Small business owners and entrepreneurs.
• SME managers and employees.
• Retail, hospitality and professional services businesses.
• Community organisations and charities.
• Business support organisations and local partners.
• Anyone interested in putting AI to practical use.

No technical or previous AI experience is required.

What to expect

This is a practical, interactive session rather than a traditional presentation.

We'll explore:

Discover
Where is your business spending too much time on repetitive work?

Identify
Which tasks could AI realistically help with?

Explore
What tools and approaches are available?

Apply
What could you start implementing now?

You'll have the opportunity to discuss your own challenges, see practical examples and connect with other local businesses and community leaders exploring AI.

Event details

Date: Monday 19 October
Time: 11:00am–1:00pm
Venue: Fishy Delishy Restaurant, 13A–14 Newham Parade, Cheshunt, EN8 9NU
Cost: Free
Format: Practical discussion, live demonstration, interactive exercises and Q&A

What to bring

Bring a business problem, process or task that you think takes too much time.

It could be:

• Responding to customer enquiries.
• Managing appointments or bookings.
• Writing repetitive emails.
• Creating marketing content.
• Processing information.
• Following up leads.
• Managing internal workflows.
• Keeping on top of customer feedback.

We'll help you start thinking about where AI could actually make a difference.

Hosted by

Hosted as part of the Google Data Centre Community AI Fellowship, bringing together local businesses, community organisations, business leaders and partners to explore practical AI adoption.

The event will also showcase TablePulse, demonstrating how AI automation can be applied to a real local business challenge.

This is about more than adopting another technology.

It's about helping local businesses use AI to save time, work smarter and create opportunities for growth.

N/B

This event may be photographed, recorded, or otherwise documented by the event organiser and/or Watson Institute. By registering for and attending this event, you acknowledge and consent to Watson Institute and the event organiser photographing, recording, or otherwise capturing your image, likeness, voice, name, and participation during the event and using such media for educational, promotional, reporting, fundraising, and other institutional purposes, including use on websites, social media, digital and print publications, and other marketing materials.

If you prefer not to appear in event photography or recordings, you must indicate your preference during registration. Event organisers and their photographers or videographers will make reasonable efforts to avoid capturing or using identifiable images of participants who opt out.