How Business Owners Can Use AI
By Shannon Harnett – Rural Chartered Accountants
AI is no longer just a buzzword or something reserved for tech companies. It’s here — and it’s already changing the game for business owners in the primary sector. If you’re feeling pressure to do more with less, improve margins, or simply find more time in the day — AI might be your next best hire.
Here’s a practical way to think about it: AI has three powerful roles— the Assistant, the Strategist, and the Creative.
1. AI as the Assistant: Your Behind-the-Scenes Workhorse
Most business owners are drowning in admin. AI can take on those repetitive, time-sucking tasks — email drafting, report formatting, research – the list is long. Think of it as a digital assistant who takes care of the grunt work, so you can focus on the high-value stuff — your goals, your people, and your decisions.
2. AI as the Strategist: Helping You See the Big Picture
AI is incredibly good at spotting patterns. It can review your spending, production and sales trends and help you identify what’s working — and what’s not. Paired with your own experience and gut feel, it becomes a strategic partner. Use it to forecast cashflow, review pricing models, or assess profitability. It won’t replace your judgement — but it will sharpen it.
3. AI as the Creative: Generating Fresh Ideas
Need help drafting a social media post, naming a new product, or explaining a complex idea? AI can help you brainstorm, draft, and get started. It’s not about being perfect — it’s about having a smart collaborator to get ideas flowing faster. Then you layer on your human insight, tone, and polish.
At Rural CA, we’re using AI internally — and we’re helping clients do the same. Whether it’s for admin relief, strategic planning, or fresh content ideas, the businesses that learn to work with AI are pulling ahead.
Start small. Pick one role — Assistant, Strategist or Creative — and trial a tool. The sooner you get curious, the more prepared you’ll be for the next wave of change.
Let us know if you want help spotting opportunities in your business. Next week I will share my approach to prompting (giving instructions) to get the best out of your AI tools.