Generative AI in Business – Practical Use Cases and Value for Companies

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Why Generative AI is Becoming a Key Business Topic

A few years ago, artificial intelligence was still a topic for specialists, research labs, and tech giants. Today, it’s transforming how businesses operate – with generative AI leading the charge.
Whether it’s text, images, code, or entire product concepts, generative AI creates content that previously required human creativity or expertise. For businesses, this opens up new horizons – from faster product development to radically more efficient processes.

👉 Want to dive deeper into the basics? Check out: What is Generative AI? – A Comprehensive Introduction for Businesses.

But what does this look like in everyday business? Which departments benefit first? And how can real competitive advantages be achieved?

What Makes Generative AI So Valuable for Businesses

Generative AI differs from traditional automation. While RPA systems (Robotic Process Automation) operate based on fixed rules, generative AI works dynamically and creatively. It identifies patterns, combines information in new ways, and generates original content.

For businesses, this means:

  1. Faster Processes: Routine tasks can be massively accelerated.
  2. Scalability: Content or service volumes can grow without proportional increases in staff.
  3. New Business Models: AI enables products or services that were previously too expensive or complex to develop.
Before diving into the details, here’s a quick outlook: According to McKinsey, generative AI could create up to $4.4 trillion in additional value per year – an economic game-changer.

Practical Applications: From Marketing to Product Development

While the technology can theoretically be applied across almost all business areas, five fields stand out in practice:
  • Marketing & Communication
  • Sales & Customer Service
  • Human Resources (HR)
  • IT & Software Development
  • Research & Innovation
In Part 1, we’ll focus on the first three – the areas where businesses are already seeing the most visible impact.

Use Case 1: Marketing & Communication – Rethinking Content Production

No business area has benefited as directly from generative AI as marketing. Whether it’s blog posts, social media content, ads, or newsletters – content is the lifeblood of digital communication.

Before AI:

Marketing teams spent days researching, writing, selecting images, and coordinating. Campaigns often took weeks to launch.

With Generative AI:

  • Text Creation: AI models write articles, optimize SEO texts, and generate ad variations.
  • Image & Video Creation: Creative assets are produced in minutes instead of days.
  • Personalization: Content can be tailored to specific target groups or even individual users.

Example:
A mid-sized e-commerce company in Germany uses generative AI to automatically create product descriptions. Instead of manually writing 3,000 texts, the AI generated drafts within two weeks – requiring only minor editorial adjustments. The result: 80% time savings, faster SEO indexing, and increased revenue in the long-tail segment.

Use Case 2: Sales & Customer Service – AI as a Digital Sales and Service Assistant

In sales, speed is critical. Delayed lead follow-ups mean lost deals. The same applies to customer service: long wait times lead to dissatisfied customers.

Generative AI can address these challenges in three key ways:

  1. Lead Qualification: AI analyzes CRM data, identifies patterns, and recommends the most promising contacts.
  2. Proposal Creation: Complex proposals can be automatically drafted and tailored to customer needs.
  3. Customer Communication: AI generates personalized emails, chat messages, or service FAQs in real-time.

Example:
An insurance company implemented a multi-agent workflow powered by generative AI:

🟣 Agent 1 analyzed incoming inquiries.
🟠 Agent 2 reviewed contract data.
🔵 Agent 3 created tailored proposals.

This reduced processing time by 60% while increasing conversion rates.

In customer service, AI can integrate with CRM systems to provide personalized responses based on purchase history and support cases. The result: faster, more tailored answers – and happier customers.

Use Case 3: Human Resources – Streamlining Recruitment & Employee Development

HR often acts as a bottleneck in companies. Reviewing applications, scheduling interviews, and providing feedback takes time and resources.

How Generative AI Helps:

  1. Applicant Management: AI reads resumes, matches skills with job profiles, and creates shortlists.
  2. Interview Scheduling: Automated scheduling saves time.
  3. Employee Development: Personalized learning paths and training content are generated automatically.

Example:
A global tech company uses generative AI to create employee training programs based on individual career goals. Instead of standardized e-learning, each employee receives a curated learning plan. This increased internal training participation by 45%.

Interim Conclusion

These three examples already show that generative AI is not a future topic – it’s transforming business reality today. Whether it’s faster marketing, more efficient sales, or smarter HR, measurable benefits are emerging everywhere:

  1. 30–80% time savings in content and document creation.
  2. Higher conversion rates in sales.
  3. Improved employee experience through personalized training.

Use Case 4: IT & Software Development – From Code to Test Automation

Few areas are as well-suited for generative AI as software development. Developers spend significant time on repetitive tasks like testing, documentation, and bug fixing – tasks that AI can handle.

Typical Applications:

  1. Code Generation: AI writes boilerplate code or suggests optimizations.
  2. Test Automation: Unit and integration tests are automatically created and executed.
  3. Documentation: Complex code logic is documented automatically.
  4. Debugging: AI analyzes error messages and suggests fixes.

Example:
A German SaaS company reports that developers using generative AI can implement features up to 30% faster. Instead of spending time on standard code, they focus on architecture and innovation.

Use Case 5: Research & Innovation – Accelerating Discovery

Research thrives on data, hypotheses, and experiments. However, analyzing large datasets is time-consuming – and this is where generative AI shines.

Examples:

  1. Literature Review: AI scans thousands of papers and summarizes key insights.
  2. Simulations: AI generates scenarios that would otherwise require costly physical tests.
  3. Product Design: From initial concepts to prototypes, designs are created automatically.

A pharmaceutical company uses generative AI to identify potential drug candidates. Instead of manually reviewing millions of molecules, the AI generates promising suggestions. The result: development cycles shortened by years.

The Business Value: ROI and Strategic Impact

Generative AI is more than an efficiency tool. It transforms business models, value chains, and even corporate cultures.

💡 Key Benefits:

  • Productivity: Routine tasks shrink, freeing employees for value-added work.
  • Innovation: New products, services, and business models emerge.
  • Scalability: Content, services, and processes can scale without proportional staff increases.
  • Cost Savings: Studies show 20–40% savings in areas like support or content production.
  • Employee Satisfaction: Teams can focus on creative projects instead of repetitive tasks.

McKinsey estimates that generative AI could create $1.4 trillion in additional annual value in marketing and sales alone.

Risks and Challenges: What Companies Need to Consider

Where there are opportunities, there are also risks. Successful adoption of generative AI requires awareness of these challenges:
  • Data Quality & Bias: Poor or biased data leads to flawed results.
  • Security & Compliance: Especially in Europe, GDPR compliance is crucial.
  • Transparency & Governance: Clear governance strategies are needed to build trust.
  • Change Management: Employees must be trained and involved to avoid resistance.
  • Dependency on Models: Proprietary LLMs can create lock-in effects. Companies should opt for model-agnostic platforms to remain flexible.

Outlook: The Future of Generative AI

Despite its progress, generative AI is still in its infancy. But development is rapid – and companies that start pilot projects today will gain a competitive edge.

Key Trends:

  • Multi-Agent Systems: Specialized AI agents working in coordination.
  • Domain-Specific Models: Tailored AI systems for industries like healthcare, law, or finance.
  • Edge & On-Premises AI: Growing demand for local or sovereign solutions, especially in Europe.
  • Generative AI + RPA: Combining traditional automation with creative AI for new workflows.
  • Human-Machine Collaboration: AI complements rather than replaces, reshaping employee roles.

Conclusion

Generative AI is here to stay. Whether in marketing, sales, HR, IT, or research, measurable benefits are emerging everywhere. Companies that act now will gain not only a productivity advantage but also strategic market differentiation.
The key question is no longer if generative AI will be used – but how quickly and effectively.

Book a Demo Now and see live how generative AI automates processes and accelerates innovation.
Download Whitepaper “Successfully Implementing Generative AI in Companies”.

FAQ

What is generative AI in business?

Generative AI creates content like text, images, or code and supports businesses in automation and innovation.

Which departments benefit the most?
Primarily marketing, sales, HR, IT, and research.
What is the ROI of generative AI?

Studies show productivity increases of 20–40%, depending on the area.

Is generative AI secure and GDPR-compliant?
Yes – when implemented on platforms with strict governance, access controls, and data sovereignty.
Does generative AI replace employees?
No – it primarily handles routine tasks, freeing teams to focus on value-added activities.

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