MBA Style Questions Owners Should Ask AI For Advice

AI is more than just a buzzword, it’s a business partner that’s always on call. At SofTouch Systems, we believe that success starts with asking the right questions. These questions owners should ask AI for advice aren’t just about saving time—they’re about unlocking better thinking and smarter strategies.

Whether you’re running a restaurant, a roofing company, or a nonprofit, here are five questions to help you think like an MBA, with AI as your assistant.

1. “Where is my business underperforming compared to the industry?”

What to ask AI:

“Analyze my recent performance metrics. What areas are weaker than the industry average based on similar business data?”

Why it matters:
Many owners don’t know what “normal” looks like in their market. AI can benchmark your numbers and highlight where you lag, whether it’s sales per employee, customer retention, or cost per lead. What AI can/can’t do.

Pro Tip: Add your own KPIs into the prompt, like: “Compare my customer churn rate to the average for service-based businesses in Texas.”

2. “What are the top unmet needs in my local market?”

What to ask AI:

“Based on industry trends and customer pain points in [your city or state], what unmet needs or service gaps could my business address?”

Why it matters:
Great businesses don’t just react, they anticipate. AI can scan through customer reviews, forums, and trend reports to find patterns and opportunities you might overlook.

Pro Tip: This is gold for developing new services, pivoting your offerings, or positioning yourself against big-box competitors.

3. “What do my highest-value customers have in common?”

What to ask AI:

“Based on my customer list, identify the traits, behaviors, or buying habits of my top 20% most profitable clients.”

Why it matters:
Not all customers are equal. By knowing what your best customers have in common, industry, size, values, pain points, you can target more of them.

Pro Tip: If you track referrals, ask AI to include referral data to see who not only buys, but evangelizes.

4. “What should I stop doing to grow faster?”

What to ask AI:

“Audit my current operations, marketing channels, and product lines. What low-value activities or services should I consider phasing out?”

Why it matters:
Sometimes growth comes not from doing more, but from doing less. AI can help you spot time-wasters, budget leaks, or legacy services that don’t align with your mission.

Pro Tip: Use this prompt quarterly to keep your business lean and focused.

5. “What future trend should I prepare for now?”

What to ask AI:

“Forecast one emerging trend in my industry that will impact small businesses over the next 2–3 years and recommend how I should prepare.”

Why it matters:
This is where MBA-level thinking shines—future positioning. AI scans data at a scale no human can match. It can spot trends in tech, pricing, labor, or customer behavior before they hit mainstream.

Pro Tip: Ask for examples from other businesses that successfully adapted early.

AI Is the Business Partner You Didn’t Know You Had

These questions owners should ask AI for advice aren’t gimmicks—they’re strategy starters. Each one turns AI from a chatbot into a trusted advisor.

At SofTouch Systems, we help clients learn how to use these tools—not just that they exist. Whether you’re ready for advanced dashboards or just starting with ChatGPT, we’ll help you ask better questions, build better processes, and make smarter moves.

Want Help Getting Started?

We offer AI-readiness coaching, prompt libraries, and hands-on integration for your unique workflow. Let’s turn your curiosity into clarity.

Schedule your free AI consultation and start asking smarter questions.

How to Boost Your Business With AI

How AI Boosts Productivity for Small Businesses

At SofTouch Systems, we know small businesses wear many hats. Between managing staff, serving customers, and keeping up with tech, there’s little time to spare. But there’s good news, AI boosts productivity for small businesses in real, tangible ways.

You don’t need to be a tech wizard to use AI. With the right tools and approach, you can work faster, think smarter, and grow more confidently.

1. Automate Repetitive Tasks

One of AI’s biggest strengths is saving you time.

  • Use AI to handle emails, schedule meetings, or manage your calendar.
  • Tools like Microsoft Copilot or Google Workspace AI can write draft emails, summarize threads, or create presentations from bullet points.
  • Zapier or Make can automate tasks across tools you already use (like QuickBooks, Gmail, or Trello).

Example: A business owner uses AI to automatically send invoice reminders, freeing up 4–5 hours each week.

2. Enhance Your Creative Process

Creativity isn’t just for artists—it’s how your business markets, sells, and innovates.

AI writing tools (like ChatGPT or Jasper) can help you:

  • Write blogs and newsletters.
  • Generate catchy headlines.
  • Repurpose your best content into social posts.

AI image tools (like Canva Magic Design or DALL·E) help you:

  • Design promo graphics.
  • Create Facebook ads.
  • Build presentation visuals without a graphic designer.

Example: A nonprofit uses AI to turn their monthly report into a donor-friendly infographic in under 10 minutes.

3. Make Smarter Business Decisions

AI can help analyze your business data and find patterns.

  • Use AI dashboards to track sales trends or customer behavior.
  • Chat with your data using tools like Microsoft Power BI + Copilot or ChatGPT Advanced Data Analysis.
  • Spot slow inventory, best-selling services, or even employee time-wasters.

Example: A small retailer used AI to identify that Tuesday morning ads got better clicks—and changed their whole ad schedule.

4. Support Better Team Management

Managing a team? AI can help there, too.

  • Use chatbots to answer employee FAQs about benefits, PTO, or workflows.
  • Draft onboarding plans with HR templates powered by AI.
  • Help staff stay focused with AI-generated task lists, summaries, or meeting notes.

Example: A Texas-based contractor used AI to draft new hire checklists, saving their office manager hours every month.

5. Improve Customer Service Without Hiring More Staff

Don’t let limited staff limit your customer support.

  • AI chatbots like Tidio or Intercom can handle basic client questions 24/7.
  • AI can write quick replies to common emails or help you follow up faster.
  • You can even use voice tools to transcribe calls and summarize action items.

Example: A landscaping company added a chatbot to their website and saw a 22% increase in scheduled estimates.

Getting Started

You don’t have to implement all this at once. Start small.

  1. Pick one area where you waste time—email, marketing, or scheduling.
  2. Choose one AI tool to test (we can help suggest the right fit).
  3. Give it 2–3 weeks and measure the results.

The goal isn’t to replace you or your staff. It’s to give you superpowers that save time, reduce stress, and help you grow smarter.

Boosting businesses with AI: SofTouch Systems

SofTouch Systems Can Help

Not sure where to begin? We offer AI-readiness assessments and hands-on support.

Let’s talk about how AI can fit into your workflow, tools, and budget.

Schedule a free consultation to see where AI can help your business thrive.

IT Disasters For Businesses: 3 Real Mistakes That Cost Businesses Thousands

At SofTouch Systems, we’ve seen just about every type of IT disasters for small businesses that you can imagine. From “harmless” email clicks that locked up payroll to dusty servers wheezing in a backroom closet. These stories are real. Names and details have been changed to protect the innocent. They all have one thing in common: they could have been prevented.

SofTouch Systems fighting IT disasters for businesses since 1993.

Today, we’re sharing three unforgettable IT horror stories to help you avoid becoming the next cautionary tale.

Nightmare #1: This is one of the most common IT disasters for small businesses: the unmonitored backup.

The Situation:
A mid-sized local business thought they were covered. The owner proudly told us, “Oh yeah, we back up every night.” But when ransomware hit and we went to restore the data… there was nothing. The backup software had failed silently six months earlier. No alerts. No warnings. Just silence.

The Cost:
Nearly $38,000 in lost contracts, stalled operations, and staff downtime.

The Lesson:
A backup that isn’t monitored is just false peace of mind. You need automated, verified, and regularly tested backups—on-site and in the cloud.

SofTouch Solution:
24/7 backup monitoring
Encrypted cloud redundancy
Monthly test restores to guarantee recovery

Ready for a checkup? Schedule your free backup audit today.

Nightmare #2: The Email That Locked a Business Out for a Week

The Situation:
An employee clicked an email labeled “URGENT: Invoice Attached.” It looked real enough—but it wasn’t. Within minutes, every file on their shared drive was encrypted. Payroll halted. Customer records were gone. They didn’t have cybersecurity insurance, and the ransom demand was steep.

The Cost:
Over $22,000 in downtime and emergency labor… plus the trust lost with clients.

The Lesson:
Humans are the weakest link in any security system. That’s why education, filters, and proactive defense are critical.

SofTouch Solution:
Monthly employee cybersecurity training
Business-grade spam and phishing filters
Ransomware rollback protection

Protect your team. Ask about our cybersecurity awareness packages.

Nightmare #3: The Server in the Broom Closet

The Situation:
A seven-year-old Dell tower sat on a tile floor between mops and a mop bucket. This was their only server—no climate control, no backup power, and no ventilation. It finally gave out on a Friday afternoon—payday. The POS system crashed. No sales. No access. Customers left, frustrated.

The Cost:
More than $11,000 in missed revenue and emergency weekend IT labor.

The Lesson:
Your IT infrastructure shouldn’t live in a closet. Business-grade servers need professional management, proactive maintenance, and room to breathe.

SofTouch Solution:
Managed server hosting or on-site optimization
Monitoring, patching, and performance tuning
Emergency response and business continuity planning

Don’t wait for a meltdown. Book a server health check now.

Real Stories. Real Losses.

These IT disasters for businesses horror stories are more common than you think, and more preventable than you’d expect.

At SofTouch Systems, we don’t believe in scare tactics. We believe in service, security, and common sense. That’s why we treat every client’s business like it’s our own. No shortcuts. No guesswork. Just dependable IT support built for real-world businesses.

Want peace of mind before the next tech scare?
Let’s sit down and talk through your risks, and how we can secure your future.

If you’re worried about becoming the next IT disaster for small businesses story, let’s talk.