10 Simple Ways Small Businesses Can Use AI to Grow (Without Feeling Like a Sci-Fi Movie)

Running a small business in Ohio comes with its unique set of challenges, from managing day-to-day operations to finding time for networking and building valuable local relationships. As technology advances, Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers practical solutions to make these tasks easier and more efficient, ensuring you have more time and resources for what truly matters—growing your business and connecting with your community. Here are five straightforward ways to incorporate AI into your business without being tech-savvy. 1. Boost Your Marketing Efforts Marketing can often feel overwhelming for small businesses. AI tools like ChatGPT can lend a helping hand by creating eye-catching content, personalizing customer interactions, and even analyzing your audience's preferences. By automating some of these tasks, you can focus more on engaging with customers and making those all-important local connections. 2. Take the Hassle Out of Financial Management Balancing the books and staying on top of finances is essential but can be stressful. AI-enhanced financial tools can automate processes like bookkeeping and invoicing. These tools offer insights into your business's financial health, helping you make better decisions without pouring over spreadsheets for hours. 3. Streamline Hiring Process Finding the right employees can make or break a small business, and AI can aid in this process by filtering through resumes and highlighting the best candidates. With AI, scheduling interviews and other repetitive tasks become more straightforward, giving you more time to meet potential team members and see if they fit your business environment. 4. Better Manage Your Inventory Keeping track of inventory can often be time-consuming and complex. AI tools can predict when products will be in demand and suggest optimal stock levels, ensuring that you never have too much or too little. This smart management can improve your bottom line and ensure customer satisfaction with on-time deliveries. 5. Elevate Customer Interaction Customer service is vital for any business, but responding to inquiries can take up a significant portion of your time. AI-driven chatbots can handle frequent questions and direct customers effectively, acting as a digital assistant. This way, you can provide excellent customer service, whilst focusing on growing personal relationships with your key clients. Frequently Asked Questions Q: How do I get started with AI in my business? A: Look at where AI could ease business pressures—be it marketing, finances, or inventory—and explore user-friendly tools fit for your business needs. Q: Are AI solutions expensive for small businesses? A: Many AI tools are budget-friendly and designed for small businesses, providing automation and efficiency without significant costs. Q: If I'm not tech-savvy, how can I learn more about AI? A: The Beavercreek Chamber of Commerce offers workshops and expert connections to help demystify technology, making it easier for you to integrate into your operations. By introducing these simple AI tools, you can experience more efficient operations and focus on strengthening your business community involvement and customer relationships. Not a Member yet? JOIN NOW at www.beavercreekchamber.org .

For Immediate Release Contact: Tom Nichols, Director of Media Relations 937-228-2287, x140, tom.nichols@daytondragons.com Dayton, Ohio (July 23, 2025) —The Dayton Dragons announced today that Day Air Ballpark has been selected as the winner of the 2025 Newsweek Fans’ Choice Award for Best Single-A Ballpark in the United States. This award follows the recent selection of the Dragons as the First-Place winner in the Dayton Daily News “Best of Dayton” contest in two categories: “ Best Attraction ” and “ Best Family Fun Destination. ” “We are very pleased to be named best ballpark by a publication as distinguished as Newsweek,” noted team president Robert Murphy. “While we work extremely hard to keep everything first class and professional, we really have to tip our caps to our corporate partners, season ticket holders, group leaders, and the entire community for helping us keep this building sold out for the past 25 seasons. It is truly remarkable what has been built here in downtown Dayton … we have the best fans in sports.” There are many things that contributed to Day Air Ballpark winning this award: The stadium was designed incredibly well. Every seat is close to the action; there is not a bad seat in the house. There are numerous hospitality options available with 25 suites, three party decks, and one larger all-inclusive, hospitality area located over the leftfield wall, called the “Dragons Lair.” Over 6,300 stadium-style theater seats, complete with arm rests, and cupholders. Three overflow lawn seating areas that are great for groups and families. The stadium concessionaire does a terrific job with both catering and concessions options offering fresh cooked foods, and many local and nationally branded offerings, such as Mar-Chele Pretzels, Donatos Pizza, Dip N’ Dots, Kona Ice, Graeter’s, Pepsi, and Anheuser-Busch products. The 7-story HD video board compliments a larger entertainment emphasis with three mascots, a complete 10-person “Green Team” leading the in-game entertainment, over 300 skits and entertainment options for the two-minute, in-between inning breaks, and much more that create laughs, smiles, and memories for fans at Day Air Ballpark. Behind the outfield wall is a Fun Zone for kids with carnival games and inflatables. The Dragons brand of “unsurpassed customer service” has been recognized locally with many is awards from local media and business organizations in the Dayton region. The stadium has a multi-million-dollar entertainment control room and in-house TV studio that allows the team to produce and broadcast its own TV games. The stadium is located in Downtown Dayton. Day Air Ballpark lies in the heart of the Water Street District, making downtown a great and thriving place to live, work, and play. The ballpark has major freeway and surface street access making getting to the ballpark remarkably simple and easy. And the ballpark has over 6,000 street, public, and private parking options just ¼ of a mile from the main entry gates. Dragons ownership has contributed over $20M back into the ballpark in repairs and maintenance and capital improvements over the past 25 seasons keeping it updated and fresh for fans. Since 2021, a $20M public/private funding plan has produced a brand-new state-of-the-art playing field, updated stadium lighting system, a new state-of-the-art sound system with over 500 speakers, over 240 feet of outfield and fascia LED signage for game info and entertainment, new roof, new HVAC heating and air systems, and a brand-new $6M Diamond Club event center (scheduled to open September 15, 2025) that will be used for Dragons games and year-round for hosting of business meetings, social events, wedding receptions, and holiday parties. Through this weekend’s games, the Dragons lead Minor League Baseball’s Single-A level (60 teams) in attendance, averaging 7,756 per home date. The Dragons currently rank #2 among all levels of the minor leagues (120 teams) in attendance average. Their total attendance to date is 310,239 with 24 scheduled home games to play this season. The Dragons have led the Single-A level (60 teams) in attendance for all 24 seasons of their existence and finished in the top 10 among all levels in every season since their first year of operation in 2000. In 2024, the Dragons finished the year ranked #3 among all levels of Minor League Baseball. About Diamond Baseball Holdings: The Dragons ownership group, Diamond Baseball Holdings (DBH), was formed in 2021 to support, promote and enhance Minor League Baseball Clubs affiliated with Major League Baseball through professional management, best practices, innovation, and investment. *Approved Dragons marks, logos, photos, and videos can be found here: https://daytondragonscs.box.com/s/vawqwub6gite6ajcinn14j6k6eb73tj9 More Information: The Dayton Dragons are the affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and play 66 home games at beautiful Day Air Ballpark, in the heart of the Water Street District. Contact the Dragons by calling at (937) 228-2287, emailing at dragons@daytondragons.com , or go to daytondragons.com. For more information, please visit the following links: 2025 Schedule: https://www.milb.com/dayton/tickets/gameplanschedules Season Tickets: https://www.milb.com/dayton/tickets/seasontickets Group and Hospitality Options: https://www.milb.com/dayton/tickets/groupoutings The Dragons sellout streak is active and stands at 1,613 consecutive games. The streak is a testament to the Dayton area community. Support the Dayton Dragons and become a Dragons season ticket holder.