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Artificial intelligence could help companies tackle some of their most pressing business challenges — from margin pressure to rapidly shifting consumer tastes, according to a presentation at The Inspired Home Show in Chicago this week.
Speaking during a keynote discussion titled “The Future of AI: Your Business Depends on it Today,” Udayan Bose, founder and CEO of NetElixir, said housewares brands and retailers can use AI to uncover hidden revenue opportunities and better anticipate customer behavior. The same strategies can be applied to home décor brands.
Bose joined Aaron Conant, co-founder of BWG Connect, on stage to discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping e-commerce and retail strategy.
While many consumers have already encountered AI through GPT tools and large language models in everyday searches, Bose said businesses are only beginning to tap its potential.
“It’s time to move from using AI to save time on simple tasks to using it for predictive analytics that drive business growth,” he said.
For home décor companies managing extensive assortments — from textiles and lighting to wall décor and accent furniture — AI can help identify overlooked opportunities within large product catalogs.
“There’s lots of money hidden in those dead SKUs, and AI can help unlock that revenue,” Bose said.
He cited an example of a company that used AI-driven experimentation to revive more than 1,100 underperforming SKUs, resulting in 39% overall order growth and $1 million in incremental revenue within three months.
Predictive analytics can also help brands identify which customers are most likely to purchase, which shoppers may be at risk of churning and where marketing investments should be focused.
From SEO to GEO
Artificial intelligence is also changing how consumers discover brands online, Conant said.
Traditional search engine optimization is evolving into Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), which focuses on ensuring brands appear in AI-generated search results.
“This means you need to change how you structure the backend of your website and how you approach social media,” Conant said. “You have to be focused on GEO. If you don’t, your brand won’t be included in AI searches.”
AI-powered search results are also becoming more sophisticated, Bose added, anticipating consumers’ needs and presenting a broader set of curated options.
AI enhances—not replaces—human judgment
Both speakers emphasized that fears of AI replacing workers are largely misplaced.
Instead, Bose said the technology will augment human roles by automating routine tasks and freeing teams to focus on strategy, creativity and decision-making.
“AI should be the starting point, not the end goal,” Bose said. “The opportunity for business leaders is to take the time saved and apply it to human judgment—the creativity, intuition and strategic thinking that AI cannot replicate.”
Four principles for AI adoption
Bose shared four principles to help companies begin integrating AI into their operations:
AI is like electricity: The applications you build determine the impact.
Work backwards from outcomes: Start with workflows, not the technology.
Keep humans in the loop: Humans with AI outperform either alone.
Start small and experiment quickly: Treat AI adoption as a series of experiments.
He also encouraged businesses to revisit long-standing processes.
“Ask yourself, do you still need those 38 steps, or can you do it in 14?” Bose said. “Leave your pride behind and look at that process you’ve been using for 19 years and see how it might be improved.”
Successful experimentation, he added, often comes from diverse teams working together to solve problems.
“This is a time when hierarchies don’t matter,” Bose said. “Bring together a small, multigenerational group to tackle one problem. Encourage people to speak up and create psychological safety. If you don’t adapt, you won’t survive.”
Bose closed with a message for business leaders navigating the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
“Start today. The right time is now,” he said. “Start with one problem. Use AI to figure out the solution and work back from there. Experimentation is the way of the future.”
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