AI Used Even in Local Shops... AI Startups Rising for Small Business Owners

Money Management and Customer Service Handled Smoothly
AI Startup Solving Small Business Challenges

Yu Young-beom (alias), who runs a convenience store in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, eliminated his worries thanks to a payroll artificial intelligence (AI) automation service introduced earlier this year by a startup. Previously, he manually calculated part-time wages by reviewing attendance logs and paid them himself. This caused monthly concerns about possible mistakes or oversights. Since using the service, AI accurately calculates the payroll and even automatically transfers the payments, making the work much easier.

AI startups have emerged as problem solvers for small business owners. For small business owners who find it difficult to utilize AI on their own, startups with technological capabilities are providing close-contact AI services handling everything from payroll to tax and customer service. The number of small business owners seeking such AI services has also increased significantly.

Newploy, which operates an automated payroll service based on attendance records, announced on the 27th that it currently provides solutions to 200,000 small business establishments, with a cumulative payroll settlement amount reaching 3 trillion won. Newploy officially launched its HR payroll AI automation manager app in June this year. This service applies AI technology to offer small business owners a simpler and more automated payroll processing environment. AI handles functions such as automatic payroll transfers, automatic calculation of severance pay, and creation of payroll ledgers based on annual salary, daily wage, or hourly wage, all in accordance with the recent Labor Standards Act. Kim Jin-yong, CEO of Newploy, said, "We are integrating AI technology to reduce the hassle for business owners who handle payroll tasks every month and are continuously advancing the system."

Jinyong Kim, CEO of Newploy

Among the services attracting small business owners' interest in AI application are payroll along with tax and accounting-related fields. Since these tasks are directly related to money, there was always concern about making mistakes each time they were processed, but with AI assistance, more accurate and faster work has become possible. TaxBee operates a solution that automates tax services for sole proprietors. AI prepares tax ledgers and supports tax filing with the National Tax Service. TaxBee explains that this solution can reduce the cost of tax processing to about one-tenth.

AI also helps with customer service. Channel Corporation, which operates the business solution 'Channel Talk,' introduced the AI customer consultation analysis tool 'VOC Studio.' AI analyzes customer service data on behalf of users and generates summary reports. The previously launched AI internet phone 'Meet' also automatically records call consultation content, converts it to text, and summarizes it, improving work efficiency.

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These startups' AI services are gaining attention because small business owners are experiencing recruitment difficulties due to high inflation, high interest rates, and rising labor costs. There is a surge in inquiries about AI services that can deliver similar work efficiency at a lower cost than hiring employees. An IT industry official said, "AI has already begun to assist work in small and medium-sized enterprises and small business sites, exerting influence," adding, "If AI technology advances and its activity areas expand, it will become a driving force for industrial growth."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.