Best AI Tools for Business Productivity: Top Picks

AI Tools for Business Productivity

AI tools are becoming indispensable, driving productivity across multiple departments. These technologies are transforming how businesses operate from streamlining marketing strategies and enhancing research capabilities to optimizing operations and workflows.

In a survey done by McKinsey, AI adoption among respondents worldwide has jumped from 55% in 2023 to 72% in 2024 — showing a dramatic change in how organizations have used AI in at least one business function.

The survey also shows the impact of generative AI tools for business, such as a decrease in HR costs and increased revenue from supply chain management.

Whether you're a small startup or a large corporation, the best AI tools for business are revolutionizing a wide array of departments and functions:

The Best AI Tools for Business

When putting together the list of essential AI tools for business, we considered key criteria to ensure that the tools meet diverse organizational needs:

✅ Price: businesses need solutions that fit within their budget while delivering high returns on investment. This list has free AI tools for business but with corresponding paid or premium plans.

✅ Privacy: we prioritized tools that offer robust data security measures as this is paramount, especially in handling sensitive information.

✅ Features and functionality: we focused on tools that provide comprehensive and innovative capabilities.

✅ User reviews: what customers say can provide insights into real-world applications and the level of their satisfaction — whether using AI tools for starting a business or making its systems and processes more efficient.

✅ Ease of integration with existing systems: we only choose tools that can seamlessly enhance current business processes.

Tool 1: Jasper AI

You can treat Jasper as your all-in-one writing assistant that can help you become more efficient in content creation across various formats — email writing, marketing materials, blog posts, social media posts, and many more. Its strength lies in marketing and content creation as it enables you to generate high-quality copy at scale.

By automating much of the writing and editing process, Jasper AI significantly reduces the time spent on these tasks, allowing teams to focus on strategic planning and creative development. This makes it an ideal solution for businesses looking to maintain a consistent and engaging presence across digital platforms.

Jasper AI seamlessly integrates with various web browsers, thanks to browser extensions. This means that this tool allows users to generate content effortlessly on different web-based platforms such as Google Docs, WordPress, or directly in email. No need to switch between applications — you can optimize workflow efficiency and enable smooth navigation across tasks.

Pricing for Jasper AI begins at $39 per user per month, with the added benefit of a 7-day free trial to explore its features and capabilities before committing.

Tool 2: Tableau

Tableau is like having a super-smart assistant for all your data needs. It uses AI to turn complex information into easy-to-understand visuals, making it perfect for teams in data analytics, finance, and business intelligence.

Whether you're looking to uncover trends or craft strategic plans, Tableau helps you see the bigger picture and make decisions based on solid data.

Plus, it's pretty user-friendly, so you can dive into your data, find patterns, and share insights effortlessly.

If you're curious about how it could transform your data game, you can start with a free trial. And when you’re ready to dive in, creator licenses kick off at $70 per user per month.

Tool 3: Salesforce Einstein

Salesforce Einstein is your go-to partner for making your CRM smarter with AI. It's like having insights at your fingertips when you automate customer interactions and tap into predictive analytics that help you stay ahead.

With Einstein AI by Salesforce, you'll find it easier to connect with your customers and deliver a standout service experience. It's a real game-changer for sales and customer service teams as it offers tools for mapping out the customer journey, prioritizing leads, and crafting personalized interactions.

Since pricing can vary depending on the Salesforce edition and any extra features you might need, it's a good idea to reach out to Salesforce for the full scoop on what would work best for your business.

Tool 4: HubSpot CRM

With its AI tool, HubSpot CRM is all about making lead management, email marketing, and customer service tasks a breeze. Imagine having automated workflows that ensure you never miss a beat with your customers, boosting your response times and making those interactions smoother than ever.

HubSpot CRM is tailor-made for teams looking to up their efficiency without breaking the bank. You can dive right in with a free plan that covers all the basics. And if you're ready to go big, there are premium plans available, starting at just $50 a month, offering loads more features as your business grows.

Tool 5: Grammarly Business

Whether you're in communications, HR, or content creation, this handy tool uses AI to polish your grammar, style, and tone to perfection. You can get real-time suggestions that help you sound professional (or whichever tone you prefer) rather consistently every time you write.

Grammarly Business is perfect for teams that want their communications to be top-notch. It catches those pesky errors and enhances readability, so you can express yourself clearly and confidently across all platforms.

Browser extensions are also available so you don't have to worry about mistakes in your emails or social media posts.

Plus, with a team subscription starting at $12.50 per user per month, it's an affordable investment that can make all the difference.

Tool 6: UiPath

UiPath is our go-to partner for automating those tedious, repetitive tasks that seem to gobble up your time. With its AI-powered robotic process automation (RPA), UiPath is here to optimize your workflows and make life a whole lot easier for operations, HR, and finance teams.

For business operations, UiPath effortlessly handles tasks like data entry and system updates. HR teams will love how it simplifies onboarding and manages employee data without breaking a sweat. And in finance, it's a lifesaver for processing invoices and reconciling data, cutting down on errors and boosting efficiency.

When it comes to pricing, UiPath is as flexible as it gets. Every business is unique, so their pricing is customized to fit your specific needs. If you're curious about how UiPath can work for you, just reach out to them for a detailed quote tailored to your requirements.

Tool 7: Zoho Analytics

Zoho Analytics is a smart platform that blends AI with sleek data visualization, giving you a bird's eye view of your business across all vital channels. It's perfect for data-driven teams in finance, marketing, and sales who need to make informed decisions quickly and effectively.

With this AI tool, you can have all your data pulled together from different sources, helping you spot trends, track performance, and make decisions backed by real numbers.

Finance teams can seamlessly consolidate their data and forecast trends, while marketing can fine-tune campaigns and measure their ROI with ease. As for sales, they get a clear snapshot of the pipeline, customer habits, and sales forecasts, all in one place.

Zoho Analytics is user-friendly, so even if you're not a tech whiz, you’ll find it easy to navigate. Starting at just $24 a month, it’s an accessible option for businesses big and small. Plus, there’s a 15-day free trial to explore all its features risk-free.

Tool 8: Drift

Drift is the go-to for transforming the online business and how to interact with customers.

Drift uses conversational AI to power live chats and chatbots, making your customer service and sales interactions more dynamic and efficient. It's like having a digital concierge that helps sales and support teams engage with website visitors right when they're browsing.

With this tool, you can answer questions instantly, guide potential customers through your sales funnel, and qualify leads on the spot. Drift's chatbots handle the initial interactions, so your team can focus on the more complex conversations that truly need a human touch. This means happier customers and a smoother sales process.

The best part? Drift is super intuitive, so your team can get up and running without a steep learning curve. Whether you're handling FAQs, setting up meetings, or nurturing leads, Drift has you covered with seamless automation.

As for pricing, it varies depending on the features you choose. Just reach out to Drift, and they'll help you find the perfect plan for your business.

Tool 9: ChatGPT for Customer Service

Thanks to ChatGPT, you can now handle tons of customer inquiries swiftly and without breaking a sweat.

Perfect for customer service teams, ChatGPT takes care of the routine stuff, freeing up your human agents to tackle the more nuanced issues. While ChatGPT isn't ready to handle customer interactions directly, it excels as an internal tool. It can help edit and translate help center articles, suggest interview questions, and even polish team meeting notes.

ChatGPT can also assist agents by summarizing long customer messages, helping them quickly grasp the main points and respond more efficiently. Plus, it can expand replies, adjust the tone, and provide insights for crafting better responses.

All this means quicker responses and happier customers who aren't left hanging. It's all about boosting efficiency and giving your customers the delightful service they deserve.

When it comes to pricing, it varies depending on how much you use it, so it's best to chat with OpenAI to get a plan that fits just right.