AI applications in 2025: 10 use cases for companies

1 AI in e-commerce: more wow for the digital shopping experience

Artificial intelligence is completely rethinking online retail - smarter, faster and more personal than ever before. And this is no longer a future scenario: according to forecasts, the global market for AI in retail is set to grow from USD 1.7 billion (2021) to over USD 36 billion by 2030 (source: businessolution.org, 2024).

This clearly shows that companies are increasingly relying on smart technologies that can do more than just analyze data. Here is an overview of the most important areas of application:

• Personalization: Whether product recommendations, newsletter content or landing pages - thanks to AI, the customer approach can be made much more individual. This not only improves the shopping experience, but also increases conversion.
• Data analysis: AI sifts through huge amounts of data from click behaviour, transactions and user profiles - and recognizes patterns that often remain hidden to humans. This enables retailers to implement targeted measures such as dynamic pricing, product recommendations or targeted campaigns.
• Customer support: AI-supported chatbots are in use around the clock, answer standard questions at lightning speed and relieve the service team. This leaves more time for more complex issues and personal advice.
• Warehouse logistics: Smart systems detect potential bottlenecks at an early stage, optimize stock levels and help to make supply chains more efficient. This saves time, money - and nerves.
• Competitive differentiation: In a highly competitive market, AI can be a decisive advantage. Those who react faster, communicate in a more targeted manner and work more efficiently stand out from the competition.
• Trend forecasts & product range planning: AI helps retailers to identify upcoming trends at an early stage and adapt their product range accordingly. This means that exactly what customers want to buy tomorrow ends up in the store.
• You can find out more about how AI is changing online retail in our article:AI in e-commerce: 7 smart applications for more success

2 AI chatbots: always ready, always polite

Sounds like a dream? It's already a reality for many companies. Intelligent chatbots answer customer queries every second, provide personalized recommendations and work around the clock. The best thing about it: customers are happier and your team can concentrate on the really tricky cases.

According to a study by Trendmonitor Deutschland, the acceptance of AI chatbots in customer service is continuously increasing - especially when they respond quickly, individually and around the clock. The advantages from the user's perspective at a glance:

• Round-the-clock availability: 58% of consumers surveyed particularly appreciate the fact that chatbots are always available.

• Fast response times: 50% see the shorter waiting times as a major advantage.

• Personalized answers: Modern AI chatbots increasingly offer individual and contextual answers, which improves the user experience.

• Increasing acceptance: The acceptance of chatbots in customer service is high, especially among tech-savvy and younger target groups. A third of respondents are in favour of using them and many recognize the efficiency benefits.
  

You can find out more in the article: AI in customer service: everything you need to know

3. lead scoring for targeted sales

Not every contact will become a customer - but with AI, you can find out more quickly which ones really could. Throughlead scoring, artificial intelligence automatically evaluates potential customers and shows you where it is really worthwhile.

According to a recent survey byMcKinsey (2024),72% of companies worldwide already use AI in at least one business area - particularly frequently inmarketing and sales. No wonder, because AI not only makes the sales process more efficient, but also much more targeted. Here is an overview of the benefits:

• Prioritized leads: AI analyzes data such as click behavior, email interactions, website visits and demographic information - and calculates how high the probability of closing is. So your focus ends up where it is most effective.

• More efficient campaigns: Instead of a "watering can" approach, you rely on a targeted approach - with personalized content for particularly promising contacts.

• Faster sales processes: Especially inthe B2B sector, where decision-making processes often take weeks, AI helps you to approach the right contacts at the right time - and that really saves time.

• Better collaboration between Marketing & Sales: A joint scoring system makes it clear when a lead is "hot" - and when Sales should take over.

• Higher conversion rates: less wastage, more sales - sounds good, doesn't it?

4 AI in the industry: more efficiency, less waste

Whether machinery or production lines - AI has long been providing a real productivity boost in industrial manufacturing. It not only helps to automate processes, but also tomake themmore intelligent. The most important fields of application at a glance:

• Quality control in real time: sensor and image data is evaluated live in order to detect faulty parts immediately - before they are processed further. This saves time, material and nerves.

• Predictive maintenance: Instead of waiting on suspicion until machines break down, AI detects potential faults at an early stage and plans maintenance in advance. This prevents downtime and extends the service life of expensive systems.

• Process automation: By intelligently linking machine and operating data, production processes can be controlled efficiently - with less human intervention but greater precision.

• Energy & resource efficiency: AI helps to optimize energy consumption, reduce material usage and manage inventories more intelligently.

• Basis for Industry 4.0: Companies that integrate AI into their production processes are laying the foundations for the networked factory of the future - flexible, data-driven and sustainable.

5. product recognition with AI: order on the digital shelf

One thing is particularly important in e-commerce with huge product ranges - an overview! But anyone who has ever had to sort thousands of items into the right category knows that this is real hard work. Fortunately, there's AI. Here it shows what it can do:

• Automatic product recognition: AI analyses product images, descriptions and metadata - and recognizes what an item is about without anyone having to do it manually.

• Intelligent categorization: Whether "sneaker" or "running shoe" - semantic text analysis ensures that products end up exactly where users expect them to be. And without any copy-paste chaos.

• Image and speech recognition: With the help of computer vision and NLP, AI not only recognizes what can be seen in images, but also understands how a product is described - visually and linguistically.

• Better user experience: Consistent and logical categories make product searches more pleasant and faster - and this also increases the willingness to buy.

• Less maintenance work: Online store operators save themselves a lot of manual work - and still retain control over their product ranges.

6 Digital administration: when AI makes administrative processes smarter

Administration often sounds like mountains of paper, long waiting times and form madness. But this is exactly where artificial intelligence can really make a difference - and finally make the path to digital administration more practicable. How AI supports cities, municipalities & authorities:

• Automated inquiry processing: citizen inquiries by email, online form or chatbot are sorted in advance by AI systems, analyzed and forwarded directly to the responsible office - without any long waits.

• Faster case processing: AI recognizes patterns in administrative data, fills out forms automatically and helps employees to make decisions quickly.

• Efficiency in processing: routine tasks , such as checking documents or assigning appointments, are automated - creating capacity for more complex cases.

• Better service quality: Citizens benefit from shorter processing times and more transparent processes - and this also modernizes the image of the administration.

• Digitalization at municipal level: With the support of AI, the dream of digital, citizen-centric administration comes a big step closer.

Our project with the town of Soltau shows what this can look like in concrete terms:AI chatbot for the administration - case town of Soltau

7. object recognition with AI: when machines learn to see

What is quite simple for us humans - recognizing, counting and comparing things - has long been a challenge for computers. But with AI andcomputer vision, this is changing fundamentally. Today, machines "see" with astonishing precision. And this opens up exciting possibilities in many industries:

• Quality control: AI uses images to detect tiny deviations in products that often escape the human eye - ideal for manufacturing, packaging or assembly.

• Inventory management & stocktaking: In logistics, AI uses cameras to detect which shelves are empty, which products are missing or where something is stacked that doesn't belong.

• Security surveillance: Intelligent systems analyze video footage in real time and sound the alarm in the event of suspicious movements or unusual behaviour - without anyone having to stare at a monitor for hours on end.

• Construction and real estate: Drones provide aerial images of construction sites or buildings that are automatically analyzed by AI - for example to document progress or detect damage.

• Retail: Camera surveillance + AI = smart store. Systems recognize, for example, which shelves are frequently accessed or where customers are located - great for optimizing the store layout.

8 AI in the financial sector: More security, less gut feeling

Numbers, data, risks - the world of finance is made for the use of artificial intelligence. And in fact, AI is already being used intensively here today - whether in fraud detection, credit risk analysis or automated customer advice.

This is how AI supports banks, FinTechs and insurers:

• Real-time risk assessment: AI analyses huge amounts of data in a matter of seconds - and recognizes patterns that could indicate payment defaults or credit default risks.

• Fraud detection: Whether suspicious transactions, forged documents or unusual movements on the account - AI reacts immediately and raises the alarm before damage occurs.

• Automated decisions: When it comes to credit applications or credit checks, AI makes well-founded decisions based on clear criteria - transparently, objectively and faster than any human.

• Personalized financial advice: Based on behavioral patterns, investment goals or life situations, AI offers individual suggestions - creating an advisory experience that feels truly relevant.

• Compliant processes (compliance): AI helps to comply with legal requirements by monitoring transactions and reporting suspicious activities - completely automatically.

According to a forecast byallaboutai.com, the global market for AI in the financial sector grew toUSD 38.36 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to overUSD 190 billion by 2030 - a clear indication of the immense potential of this technology.

9 AI in the construction industry: Better planning, safer building

Construction sites are complex, dynamic - and often chaotic. This is precisely why the use of artificial intelligence in the construction industry offers enormous potential. It provides a better overview, better planning and ultimately saves money. Here, AI shows what it can really do:

• Analysing construction plans: AI reads construction drawings, detects discrepancies and helps to optimize designs - before the first brick is laid.

• Real-time monitoring: Drones provide up-to-date images of construction progress, which are automatically analyzed by AI. Deviations from the schedule or cost plan? Are detected immediately.

• Safety management: AI recognizes potential hazards on the construction site - such as a lack of protective equipment or unsafe movement patterns - and thus actively contributes to accident prevention.

• Planning the use of materials and resources: Algorithms help to optimize material consumption and identify bottlenecks at an early stage.

• Transparency for everyone involved: Thanks to automated analysis and documentation, clients, architectsand project managers have an overview at all times - data-based and up-to-date.

10 AI in medicine: more precision, less paperwork

Making diagnoses, planning treatments, evaluating data - the healthcare sector is all about precision, time and trust. This is exactly where AI comes into play: it relieves the burden on medical staff, speeds up processes and ensures greater safety in patient care. This is how artificial intelligence is changing everyday medical practice:

• Diagnostics on a new level: AI evaluates CT, MRI or ultrasound images in a matter of seconds and detects abnormalities that the human eye might miss - e.g. tumors or tissue changes.

• Personalized therapy planning: Based on the individual clinical picture, AI suggests suitable treatment paths - tailored to age, medical history and risk factors.

• Early detection of chronic diseases: Through continuous data monitoring (e.g. viawearables), AI detects critical developments at an early stage - before symptoms even appear.

• More time for humanity: less bureaucracy, more patient proximity - by taking over routine tasks, AI leaves more room for what really matters in healthcare.

According toYahoo Finance, the global market for AI in healthcare is estimated to be worthUSD 37 billionin 2025 - and is set to grow to overUSD 600 billion by 2034.