Charlie Felker understands the reality of running a small trading business. As a former US Army 75th Ranger Regiment Officer and successful entrepreneur, Felker has seen firsthand the daily challenges owner-operators face in the retail industry. His company, Free-2-Grow, aims to alleviate these burdens by introducing AI-powered solutions for back-office operations, enabling business owners to focus on what they do best: delivering quality service to their customers.

“You didn’t start your gutter shift to answer phones,” Felker points out. He emphasizes that most tradesmen are passionate about their craft – whether it’s plumbing repairs, plumbing or electrical work – but often get bogged down in the administrative aspects of running a business. “The calls come in and you get pulled into the weeds,” he explains, highlighting how intake calls, scheduling and customer management can eat up valuable time spent performing services and growing the business.

Felker sees AI as the key to changing this dynamic. By automating intake calls, meeting scheduling, and customer relationship management (CRM) tasks, AI can free business owners from tedious administrative work, allowing them to focus on their core services and business growth. “If there’s a better product, which AI will be, it will allow them to focus on what they want to do — train their technicians and drive business,” Felker says.

According to research from the Small Business Administration (SBA), small business owners spend up to 25% of their time managing back office operations. This time could be better spent on revenue-generating activities, such as customer service and business development. AI can reduce that burden, enabling more efficient operations and increased profitability.

As AI continues to advance, more companies in the craft industry are exploring its potential. In fact, a 2023 Harvard Business Review study revealed that companies using AI-based automation in their operations saw an average productivity increase of 20-30% in the first year. The ability to streamline administrative tasks through AI can be transformative for trading companies. AI can handle multiple calls simultaneously, schedule meetings and even integrate with CRM systems, ensuring no leads are lost.

Felker’s vision for Free-2-Grow is rooted in this potential. By taking over time-consuming back-office tasks, AI will allow industry entrepreneurs to focus on delivering superior services and growing their businesses. As AI continues to evolve, it’s clear that the future of commerce will be shaped by how effectively businesses can leverage the technology to stay ahead of the curve.

For industry entrepreneurs looking to thrive in a competitive market, embracing AI to its full potential could be the key.

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