Top Business Tools for Productivity, Cybersecurity, and AI Innovation: Insights From #USAMfgHour

Businesses need the right tools to stay productive, secure, and competitive. Because technology is constantly changing, it can be challenging to know what software and programs are available to boost productivity and enhance cybersecurity.

During a recent #USAMfgHour chat on X, host Ruby Rusine from Social Success Marketing guided participants in a discussion that drew on their own experiences to share the tools that have had the greatest impact on their operations. 

 

Must-Have Tools for Staying Organized and Productive

The chat began with host Rusine asking participants to share their must-have tools for staying organized and productive. 

“My only diary which is also on my phone,” answered Nigel Packer of PelaTis Online. “They sync with each other, keeping me on track and on time.”

“Is that a native tool on your phone or do you use another app?” host Rusine asked Packer.

“It’s Outlook Ruby,” Packer replied to host Rusine.

“That’s one trusty go-to,” host Rusine commented.

“An old school visual calendar – several in fact – with one easily seen without anything but major holidays marked (of course major holidays includes major Family holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, etc.),” responded Amy Anderson.

“A notebook,” said Rick Gunnarson from DCSC, Inc. 

“Personally, I have a @passion_planner,” stated Whitney Koch from Keystone Click. “I love using the Paper Mate Flair pens to write in it. That and my Google Calendar keep me organized at home and work.”

“That’s our favorite go-to. Anything with pen and paper! …as long as I remember where I put it. LOL,” host Rusine said in response to Koch.

“If it’s not on my Google Calendar or in my HubSpot CRM, it’s not getting done,” added Phil Samuels from Intuilize.

Before asking the next question, host Rusine shared how she stays organized: “Old-school magic: My trusty planner, pen, and sticky notes. Analog efficiency at its finest! 📓✍️”

 

Social Media Content Creation and Scheduling Tools

Though many of the participants’ preferred “tools” were analog, host Rusine noted that we are in the digital age. Today “content is king,” as they say, and businesses must consistently create engaging content to stay relevant. To that end, host Rusine asked participants to name their favorite tool for creating and scheduling social media content. 

“My wife!” Packer exclaimed. “She is the creative who makes all my picture posts. For writing I use Word. 100% human-generated content.”

“The primary tools I like for social media content creation are @canva and ChatGPT,” said Koch. “I’ve used @buffer, @hootsuite, @SproutSocial, and @Sendible for scheduling, and they all have their plusses and minuses. I am super happy that LinkedIn allows on-platform scheduling.”

“It does?” Kirsten Austin from DCSC, Inc. asked Koch. “I had no clue! I could actually use that. Thank you, Whitney!”

Responding to Austin, Koch added: “YES!! And you know platforms prefer you to do things on their platform. It would be interesting to compare the metrics of posts scheduled on-platform and off.”

“Our marketers handle that,” Samuels commented. “I know they are created and scheduled but I [am] not 100% on the tool. It may be HubSpot again. My favorite tool for content creation is my brain, but ChatGPT could assimilate everything I’ve ever written and execute at a higher level.”

“I like using ChatGPT for ideation to help get the juices flowing whenever I feel mentally stuck,” Koch replied to Samuels. “Really great to have if you don’t have a teammate to bounce ideas off of.”

“That’s such a smart way to use ChatGPT!” host Rusine responded to Koch’s reply.

Host Rusine, a seasoned digital marketing expert, described how her content creation process has evolved.

“Times have changed! I still remember using PowerPoint to create images,” host Rusine reflected. “Now @VistaCreate for design + @publer by @ErvinKalemi for scheduling is my power combo. VistaCreate’s templates save time, while Publer’s features help optimize our posting strategy.”

This answer from host Rusine prompted Ervin Kalemi to reply to her.

“Not to mention the fact that you can design with VistaCreate right within Publer https://help.publer.io/en/article/how-to-design-illustrations-videos-and-gifs-with-the-vistacreate-crello-integration-9pg2ey/,” he said.

 

Cybersecurity Tools That Protect Your Business Data

The chat then pivoted to security. For marketers especially, data is gold that needs to be protected. Host Rusine asked participants to share the cybersecurity tool they trust to protect business data. 

“A very important question!” declared Koch. “Though [I] must admit I do not know what tools we use for this purpose.”

“It’s a necessity for us because we access all the data of our distributors they [sic] have in their ERP,” Samuels commented in response to Koch.

“Totally get it! Lots of highly sensitive data,” Koch replied to Samuels. “One thing I do know of and use is @LastPass for secure password sharing.”

“Only using apps and software that are confirmed to be secure and good,” Packer remarked. “Make every password different. Use a paper-based password bank to store all passwords and keeping that book under lock and key.” 

“We use Keeper Password Vault. (http://keepersecurity.com),” said Samuels. “It encrypts our passwords, generates them when appropriate and demands 2FA (Two Factor Authentication).” 

“OMG, that sounds like a VERY helpful tool,” Austin responded to Samuels. “I always am forgetting my passwords. Great tip, Phil. I’ll check them out very soon!”

“My note’s getting longer but loving it. Thanks for the tips!!!” Rusine emphasized in her reply to Samuels. “All our PW is saved in my device and I think (!) it’s encrypted but will check @keepersecurity. Thanks, Phil.”

Similar to Samuels, host Rusine commented on the importance of two-factor authentication.

“I may find it annoying at times,” she said, “but I’m a fan of 2FA for added security! I also love @OneRepCom for cleaning up my online presence and Complete ID of @Experian for monitoring my information.” 

 

Analytics Tools for Business Insights

Continuing the discussion about data, host Rusine emphasized the importance of data analytics for understanding your business. With a variety of analytics tools on the market, she asked participants to share the analytics tool that provides the most valuable insights for their business.

“Hmmmm… literally our business. I’m going with intuilize,” said Samuels.

“Can’t go wrong with that!” Rusine responded to Samuels.

“I can’t speak to the business side, but for content creation, Google Analytics and platform analytics are where it’s at,” answered Koch.

“Perf for us. A must-use tool of the trade!” host Rusine commented, affirming Koch’s answer.

“Always read the comments,” Packer recommended. “Asking the right questions and listening to the answers. The greatest insights I get are from the conversations that other people have. When they are not under pressure and speak freely you learn a lot more about people, cultures and feelings.”

Samuels provided an explanation for Packer’s response: “Because you @NigelTPacker are a Great Communicator!”

“I read and listen a lot as well, Phil,” Packer replied. “Quietly gathering the information, thinking about it, discussing it and then using it.”

To conclude this portion of the chat, host Rusine shared the analytics tool she most recommends.

“@googleanalytics 4 (G4) is a game-changer for tracking website traffic and user behavior,” host Rusine asserted. “While many tools exist, I often recommend G4 to businesses short on time and resources. Why? Because you need to know how your digital efforts are performing. Is social media driving traffic to your online store?GA4 has the insights you need!” 

 

Emerging Technology and AI in Business Operations

For her final question, host Rusine asked participants to look to the future of business technology and name an emerging technology or tool they are excited to incorporate into their business operations and how they anticipate it will impact their work. 

“We are always looking at new and better software and hardware to make things run smoother for our operation,” Austin answered.

“Yes, there are NEW tools out there for sure,” host Rusine said, corroborating Austin’s answer. “I discovered a couple of new ones that I will check out in a few.”

“I know there are a ton of AI tools out there I would love to explore more thoroughly,” Koch said. “Anything that can help me keep my inbox under control and stay organized, I need it!”

Packer also had artificial intelligence (AI) on his mind.

“I look forward to the day that an AI platform has been produced that does not have a load of restrictions,” he remarked. “So many of them are constrained by PC and bad actors. AI will never be good until it can create content drawn from all sides of every divide.”

Like Koch and Packer, host Rusine sees AI as the future, noting how it is already improving the processes at Social Success Marketing.

“Imagine:

• Supercharged efficiency
• Personalization at [a] massive scale
• Predictive scheduling 
• Image & video creation
• Explore fresh perspectives”

She then asked, “How is AI transforming your industry?”

“I’m playing with it on our blogs and social media, trying to temper it to not overwrite what I actually mean,” Austin said. “We have clients testing it out for anything to help QC in their manufacturing plant, write onboarding documentation for their newer team members, etc. The list is too long but it’s definitely not going away.”

 

The Right Tools Give Your Business an Edge

The right tools can have a significant impact on business efficiency, security, and future readiness. Whether optimizing productivity, safeguarding data, or exploring the potential of AI, innovative technologies currently exist to help manufacturers and other B2B businesses improve their current operations and scale. Thoughtful selection and implementation of these tools will be key to maintaining a competitive edge in the digital world.

 

About #USAMfgHour

Anyone who champions U.S. manufacturing can join in on a new conversation each week on Twitter using the hashtag #USAMfgHour. The chat starts at 11 a.m. Pacific Standard Time/2 p.m. Eastern. Share positive blog posts, helpful articles, news, important information, accomplishments, events, and more with other manufacturers and supporters from throughout the country.

Are you interested in hosting a #USAMfgHour chat? Contact organizers @DCSCinc, @SocialSMktg, and @KeystoneClick.

To learn more about how Keystone Click can help you level up your online presence, contact us.