20 of the best AI tools for business productivity (2024)

Although most business leaders are aware that AI presents a solid opportunity to boost productivity and innovation, knowing which AI business tools to choose is easier said than done. Right now, there seems to be a new AI start-up springing onto the market every day. Businesses are being swamped by choice paralysis. When you add organisational resistance to this and regulatory hoops, it's not surprising that one in four businesses still haven’t implemented AI.

We've put together a list of simple AI yet impactful tools that businesses can install to increase productivity and work smarter. We’ve selected tools that you can deploy easily, without the need for complex MLOps or eye watering costs. These tools offer the highest levels of security and governance, so you won’t have to fret about your data being compromised. After all, AI should solve problems, not create them

Let’s jump into the best AI business tools on the market right now, spread across 10 business use case categories.

1. Chatbots

OpenDialogue

OpenDialogue is an AI-powered chatbot designed to enhance customer service and engagement. It offers intelligent conversation capabilities, allowing it to understand and respond to customer inquiries promptly.

Pros:

• Personalized interactions
• Easy integration with various plug-in platforms
• Real-time responses

Cons:

• Can be costly for small businesses
• Requires some setup and training

Pricing: Custom pricing based on business needs. Visit OpenDialogue

Claude 2‍

Claude 2 is another leading chatbot that uses advanced AI to handle customer queries. It can manage complex interactions and provide personalized responses, improving customer success and satisfaction.

Pros:

• High response accuracy
• Handles complex queries
• Customizable to fit business needs

Cons:

• Expensive for smaller operations
• May require technical expertise to customize

Pricing: Varies based on usage and customization. Visit Claude 2

2. Note Takers

Fireflies AI

Fireflies AI is a powerful tool that transcribes meetings, taking notes automatically. It captures everything from calls and meetings, making it easier to keep track of important discussions.

Pros:

• Accurate transcription
• Integrates with popular meeting platforms
• Easy to use

Cons:

• Accuracy can vary with audio quality
• Limited features on the free plan

Pricing: Free plan available, premium starts at $10/month. Visit Fireflies AI

Otter.ai

Otter.ai is another excellent tool for note-taking, especially during significant meetings. It provides real-time transcription and can identify speakers, making it particularly useful for recording detailed minutes.

Pros:

• Real-time transcription with speaker identification
• Integrates with video conferencing tools
• Offers keyword summaries

Cons:

• Transcription errors in noisy environments
• Free version has limited minutes

Pricing: Free plan available, premium starts at $8.33/month. Visit Otter.ai

3. Content Creation

GPT-4o

GPT-4o is an advanced language model that is skilled at creating diverse types of language-based content with a high degree of customization and coherence. It's capable of understanding and generating text in multiple languages and formats, making it a powerful tool for efficient content generation across various platforms.

Pros:

• Highly sophisticated text generation
• Supports a broad range of languages and formats
• Can generate detailed and contextually relevant content

Cons:

• Requires careful guidance to avoid generating undesired content
• Can be cost-prohibitive for continuous high-volume use

Pricing: Free plans recently made available, but pricing can occur based on the amount of text generated and the complexity of the tasks. Learn more about OpenAI’s offerings

Copy.ai

Copy.ai is a decent AI tool for generating creative and engaging content. It can help with writing blog posts, social media content, emails, and a whole lot more, speeding up the writing process significantly.

Pros:

• User-friendly interface
• Generates content quickly
• Wide range of templates available

Cons:

• Quality of output can vary
• Needs human editing

Pricing: Free plan available, premium starts at $49/month. Visit Copy.ai

4. Graphic Design

DALL-E

DALL-E is a cutting-edge AI program developed by OpenAI that can generate unique images and art from textual prompts. This tool allows users to create complex visuals simply by describing what they envision, making it an invaluable resource for graphic designers looking to bring ideas to life quickly.

Pros:

• Generates high-quality, creative images from textual prompts
• Can edit parts of existing images or create variations
• Useful for conceptual design and ideation phases

Cons:

• Output can sometimes be unpredictable
• Not suitable for graphics with text
• Usage is governed by OpenAI’s content policy, which restricts certain types of imagery

Pricing: Usage-based pricing; requires credits purchased through OpenAI. Visit DALL-E

Canva’s Magic Write

This is an AI-powered feature within Canva, a popular graphic design tool. Magic Write assists with generating design elements, text content, and layout suggestions based on the user’s requirements. It streamlines the design process, especially for non-designers, by making it easy to create professional-level graphics.

Pros:

• User-friendly interface ideal for beginners and professionals alike
• Integrates AI directly into the design process for seamless content creation
• Extensive library of templates and design elements

Cons:

• Some creative limitations compared to more advanced design software
• Premium features require a subscription

Pricing: Free version available; Pro version starts at $12.99 per month. Visit Canva

5. Video Creation and Editing

Descript

Descript offers advanced features like speech-to-text transcription and automated editing. It makes the video production process more seamless, especially for those without extensive editing skills.

Pros:

• Easy transcription and editing
• User-friendly interface
• Recommended for podcasts and videos

Cons:

• Limited advanced features for professional editors
• Can be expensive for small businesses

Pricing: Free plan available, premium starts at $15/month. Visit Descript

CapCut

CapCut is a free all-in-one video editing app that allows users to create sharp, high-quality videos with ease. It's particularly popular for its user-friendly interface and the vast array of editing features, including advanced filters and effects, that are typically found in more complex software.

Pros:

• Comprehensive free tool with no initial cost
• Intuitive user interface suitable for beginners
• Ideal for social media and short-form videos
• Offers advanced editing features like overlays, keyframe animations, and more

Cons:

• Primarily designed for mobile devices, which might limit professional use
• Some users may find the app less robust for large-scale video projects
• Not suitable for long videos

Pricing: Free to use, offers in-app purchases. Visit CapCut

6. Grammar Checkers and Rewording Tools

Grammarly

Grammarly is a tried and trusted tool for ensuring clear and concise communication. It spots and corrects grammar mistakes, suggests improvements, and even helps with tone and style.

Pros:

• Highly accurate
• Real-time suggestions
• Browser and app integration

Cons:

• Premium version can be expensive
• May occasionally flag some correct phrases

Pricing: Free plan available, premium starts at $12/month. Visit Grammarly

Wordtune

Wordtune is another good AI tool that helps reword sentences to improve clarity and style. It’s great for ensuring your message is communicated accurately and effectively.

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Enhances writing style
• Integrates with popular writing platforms

Cons:

• Limited free version
• Some suggestions may not fit the context perfectly

Pricing: Free plan available, premium starts at $9.99/month. Visit Wordtune

7. Project Management

Notion

Notion offers a flexible platform that combines notes, tasks, databases, and project management into one tool. It's particularly favoured for its customizability, allowing teams to create and manage their projects using a variety of templates and tools.

Pros:

• Highly customizable interface
• Combines notes, databases, and task management
• Ideal for both small teams and individual users

Cons:

• Can have a steep learning curve due to its many features
• Sometimes hard to find what you're looking for - search functionality lacking
• Real-time collaboration can sometimes lag

Pricing: Free for individual use, team plans start at $8 per user per month. Visit Notion

Trello

Trello is another popular project management tool that uses the Kanban board approach to task management. It's simple to use and very visual, making it easy for teams to track project progress at a glance.

Pros:

• User-friendly interface with drag-and-drop functionality
• Good for managing small to medium-sized projects
• Integrates with various software apps to enhance functionality

Cons:

• Can become cluttered with large projects or too many tasks
• Lacks some advanced project management features like resource management

Pricing: Free basic plan available, premium plans start at $10 per user per month. Visit Trello

8. Service Management

EnateAI

EnateAI is a decent tool for anyone running a large service. It enables businesses to easily streamline service delivery by automating significant parts of service management and minimising manual work. Businesses like TMF rely on it to streamline service management, customer support, service desk, and back-office operations.

Pros:

• Easy 'Switch on' automation features for services including sentiment analysis AI, intelligent document processing, email triage and classification AI.
• 97% accuracy
• No coding or MLOps required. Just install and go
• Integrates with other leading business tools to provide a seamless operation

Cons:

• Customers either need to purchase Enate’s workflow orchestration platform to gain access to all the AI features, or purchase AI features through an API.
• Not recommended for smaller businesses

Pricing: Custom pricing. Visit EnateAI

Freshservice

Freshservice is a modern, easy-to-use IT service management software that also extends to other service management areas. It provides businesses with tools to streamline their service delivery, automate tasks, and improve customer satisfaction through an intuitive interface and powerful automation capabilities.

Pros:

• User-friendly interface
• Comprehensive ITSM and customer service management features
• Strong automation and AI capabilities

Cons:

• Can be costly when adding multiple features or for large teams
• Customization options may require technical know-how

Pricing: Starts at $19 per user per month with various tiers based on features and support levels. Visit Freshservice

9. Scheduling

Clockwise

Clockwise uses AI algorithms to optimize calendars and streamline meeting scheduling. It suggests the best times for meetings based on users' schedules and preferences.

Pros:

• Automates scheduling
• Reduces calendar conflicts
• Easy to set up

Cons:

• Limited free version
• Premium can be costly

Pricing: Free plan available, premium starts at $6/month. Visit Clockwise

Reclaim

Reclaim is another great tool for optimizing schedules. It helps manage meeting times, focus time, and even personal appointments.

Pros:

• Smart scheduling
• Integrates with calendar apps
• Helps balance work and personal time

Cons:

• Limited features on the free plan
• Some setup required

Pricing: Free plan available, premium starts at $8/month. Visit Reclaim

10. Email Inbox Management

SaneBox

SaneBox helps prioritize important emails, declutters your inbox, and automates repetitive tasks, making email management much more streamlined and efficient.

Pros:

• Effective email filtering
• Customizable features
• Integrates with most email providers

Cons:

• No free plan
• A bit of a learning curve to get started

Pricing: Starts at $7/month. Visit SaneBox

EnateAI

EnateAI offers advanced solutions for email management by using AI to streamline email triaging, processing and categorization. Additionally, it features sentiment analysis capabilities, which allow it to understand the tone and urgency of incoming customer messages. This enables businesses to prioritize responses based on customer sentiment, further enhancing service delivery and response times.

Pros:

• Automates email sorting and prioritization
• Detects tone and sentiment of emails
• Can help reduce manual handling of emails (900 hours saved per 30,000 emails)
• Integrates with software solutions for enhanced productivity

Cons:

• Solution works best with Enate’s all-in-one workflow orchestration platform
• May not be suitable for smaller businesses

Pricing: Custom pricing. Visit EnateAI