7 Ways To Save Time With an AI Analytics Tool

“Numbers have an important story to tell. They rely on you to give them a clear and convincing voice.”

The above quote from Stephen Few is especially applicable to agencies. Arguably, data is one of the most important parts of campaign performance and delivering value to clients. It’s what informs marketing strategies, keeps goals on track, and ensures things are progressing as they should.

That said, the numbers are just one part of the puzzle; how you communicate the results is what truly matters. While data analysis is a critical part of the job, sometimes, it just seems like a drain on your billable hours and resources. Let’s be real–there’s not always time to deep-dive into every client campaign, provide additional context, or explain things in more detail. Still, it’s these exact things that set your agency apart and keep clients coming back for more. 

Instead of neglecting data storytelling, there’s a solution–using an AI analytics tool. It’s a way to generate instant actionable insights, quickly summarize campaign performance, and even identify new opportunities. With it, agencies are better able to deliver insights that matter, all in a much faster time.

In this article, we’ll explore the key benefits of AI analytics tools, along with practical applications for client reporting. 

The Rise of AI-Based Analytics Tools

There’s no denying that AI has touched nearly every aspect of digital marketing. 

From content creation to automated customer service, it’s revolutionized many processes, forever changing the way agencies approach daily tasks. To put things in context, consider that ChatGPT was officially launched in 2022–that’s right, just two years ago!

Even with such a short life span, AI shows no signs of slowing down. And according to 85% of agency leaders in our last Benchmarks Survey, it’s likely to continue over the next few years.

So, where does AI data analytics fit in all of this? 

Reporting is something all agencies have to do; it’s non-negotiable. Clients rely on these insights to gauge progress, understand marketing performance, and assess whether your services are actually worth the investment.

Before AI, tools like AgencyAnalytics already streamlined much of this process by automating data retrieval, providing intuitive visualizations, and consolidating metrics into a single hub. Even then, most agencies using our platform spent only 15 to 30 minutes preparing each client report.

With the introduction of AI data analysis, this process has now reached a new level. Instead of manually interpreting client results, agencies can now produce data-informed recommendations in a fraction of the time. In other words, AI-powered tools help agencies get out of the weeds and back to what they do best: Delivering results.

7 Ways To Save Time Using AI-Powered Analytics Tools

Wondering what are the detailed benefits of an AI-powered data analytics tool? Here’s an overview: 

1. Instantly Analyze Large Volumes of Data

More clients means more data to report on.

As your roster grows, so do your reporting responsibilities. So, that means your agency must have strategic buffers in place to handle a growing volume of client metrics. AI data analysis is a solution to these challenges–it automatically processes data across multiple platforms, removing the hassle of interpreting data on your own.

Aside from speeding up report prep, using AI for data analysis means investing in your long-term growth. Your team doesn’t need a background in data science, either–in a few seconds, use AI to instantly understand the story behind the numbers. By reclaiming billable hours, you’ll have more bandwidth to onboard new clients without sacrificing report quality or response time.

2. Access Unbiased Data Insights With Minimal Hassle

Let’s face it–no agency is perfect (or employee, for that matter). 

Even if you’ve got the best data analysts on board, there’s always a risk of bias–it may be subtle and unintentional, too. While it may simply seem like human nature, these oversights could result in skewed or misinterpreted insights.

Take a busy Social Media Manager, for example. When the end of the month rolls around, they’re tasked with analyzing campaigns across multiple social media platforms, which could become overwhelming (if they’re relying on traditional data analytics, that is).

In this scenario, it’s easy to unconsciously favor certain metrics that align with past experiences, especially when there’s a time crunch for report delivery. For instance, they might give more weight to follower count because it's a metric their client values. In doing so, they could overlook engagement rates that tell a more comprehensive story about audience interest.

AI-generated business intelligence provides a solution to these issues. It’s a way to gain an unbiased view of marketing performance, highlight insights that aren’t top-of-mind, and ensure a more balanced analysis.

3. Analyze Cross-Campaign Performance in a Few Seconds

When there’s a lot going on, it's not always feasible to examine every campaign in tremendous depth. 

Still, clients are relying on your expert advice to reach their goals. Should they increase ad spend for Google Ads vs. Facebook Ads? Is it wiser to reinvest those funds into SEO or another high-performing social media channel? Whatever the case, your agency must consider these nuances and help clients make the best decisions possible.

In these scenarios, AI has the ability to analyze multiple campaigns on your behalf. It automatically assesses the bigger marketing picture and considers all metrics in the mix. This approach helps your agency allocate budgets effectively, identify top-performing channels, and make strategic recommendations.

4. Quickly Identify Opportunities For Growth 

AI isn’t just about analyzing past performance–it’s a way to identify future opportunities.

In a few seconds, AI spotlights high-performing campaigns, identifies potential areas for improvement, and uncovers emerging trends. It enables agencies to proactively allocate resources, pivot when needed, and help clients gain a competitive edge. More specifically, here are a few opportunities an AI data analysis might reveal:

• Low-Cost, High-Impact Strategies: AI quickly analyzes metrics like cost-per-click (CPC) and cost-per-lead (CPL) data across various campaigns. In doing so, it becomes easier to identify where clients are achieving conversions at lower costs. This helps maintain profitability, which is especially valuable for clients with limited budgets.

• Traffic Decline Indicators: AI may automatically detect a decline in website sessions and organic traffic. To address this issue, machine learning models may suggest focusing more on SEO efforts (e.g., content optimization) or engagement via email campaigns.

• Conversion Funnel Issues: Use machine learning algorithms to identify conversion issues and any possible bottlenecks in the customer journey. It may mean reducing a lengthy checkout process, addressing poor inventory management, or optimizing landing pages.

5. Pinpoint Areas for Optimization and Improvement

Even if you’ve put the right parameters in place, there’s no guarantee that campaigns will perform as expected (hey, it happens). That said, part of being a proactive agency is identifying campaign hiccups and letting clients know your plan to fix them. 

Previously, your team may have combed through analytics to diagnose underperformance or spot concerning trends. With AI-powered data analysis, however, it’s now possible to quickly detect anomalies, like a sudden drop in click-through rates or a plateau in lead volume. 

By catching these issues quickly, your agency will be in a better position to take swift action and course-correct. The best part? AI uses natural language processing to break down these complex findings into digestible insights. That way, it’s easier for clients to understand and doesn’t sound like something written by data scientists.

6. Uncover Campaign Wins (Especially Overlooked Ones)

As they say, if a tree falls in a forest and no one hears the sound, did it really happen? 

Maybe, maybe not. It highlights a key lesson, though: A great accomplishment loses impact if clients don’t see it or recognize its value. In other words, your agency should ensure visibility for campaign wins, which demonstrates your ability to drive results.

Sure–it’s easy to spot more straightforward wins, like hitting a lead gen goal or a specific number of conversions. But what if there was a way to show compelling results and identify valid (but not-so-obvious) wins?

Luckily, AI does an excellent job of sifting through piles of data and going beyond the surface level. Take a legacy client with a long-running SEO campaign, for example. An AI-powered analysis might detect smaller gains, like a steady increase in organic traffic or a change in SERP position.

These insights provide concrete evidence of progress, helping your agency demonstrate ongoing value (even if the primary KPI shifts only gradually). Highlighting these subtler wins helps your agency paint a positive picture, which reinforces client trust in the process.

7. Deliver Clear, Concise Campaign Summaries

Clients don’t want data overload–they want straightforward insights. 

Realistically, clients often don’t have time to dive deep into every reporting detail, especially if they’re on the C-suite level. They need quick, actionable takeaways that get straight to the point.

While there’s tremendous value in creating a performance overview for each client, sometimes, it feels like another thing on your to-do list. After all, you’ve got other deliverables, deadlines, and priorities. Instead of getting bogged down with report prep, use AI to generate a concise summary.

This approach turns unstructured data into a compelling but concise narrative–one that clients will quickly grasp. That way, you’ll maximize their busy time and share useful insights with minimal effort.

How To Use Ask AI and AI Summary in AgencyAnalytics

Curious how AI-powered features work in a reporting context? Look no further than Ask AI and AI Summary in AgencyAnalytics! These tools were designed to complement your existing reporting process and enhance overall efficiency–here’s exactly how to use them.

Step 1: Ask AI for Deeper Client Reporting Insights

Ask AI is a handy chatbot feature that’s directly integrated into dashboards within the AgencyAnalytics platform. That means you won’t have to open a separate browser or navigate elsewhere to access these instant insights. Instead, it’s as easy as clicking the “Ask AI” button in the top right corner.

To get the most from this feature, use the pre-defined prompts to dig deeper and instantly generate insights about campaign performance. Here’s an explanation of each prompt:

You’re not limited to these prompts, either–Ask AI anything about your client’s reporting results! Just type your question into the text box and let the magic happen.

Step 2: Create a Performance Overview With AI Summary

AI Summary is useful for analyzing data and translating it into natural language that clients will understand. It quickly creates a high-level performance overview, which is a time-efficient way to share key takeaways in an impactful format.

Using the AI features in AgencyAnalytics helps us summarize a client report much faster than reading through results, typing up an email, and sending it to the client. The predictive analytics in Ask AI has certainly increased our productivity, helping us to do things much faster.

Kevin Watts, Founder, Raincross

Ready to try it out? Here’s how to add an AI Summary to a client dashboard:

• Click on “Edit Dashboard Section” in the top right corner.

• Under “Add Widgets”, head to the “Objects” menu.

• Scroll down to “AI Summary” and drag it wherever you want in the interface (usually, it goes to the very top, directly above data visualization). 

Similarly, follow these steps if you’re adding an AI Summary to a report:

• On the right-hand menu, click on “Objects” under “Add Widgets.”

• Scroll down to “AI Summary” and add it anywhere on your report (immediately after the “Table of Contents” is a good spot). That’s it!

Step 3: Customize AI-Generated Insights as Needed

While AI-generated text is certainly helpful, it’s always nice to add that personal touch. It’s what solidifies agency-client relationships and demonstrates attention to detail.

AI can automate data collection and analysis, but the real value lies in how you interpret the results and turn them into valuable insights for your clients. Use it to enhance your ability to identify trends, opportunities, and areas for improvement. AI can handle the heavy lifting, but your strategic input is what will ultimately drive success for your clients.

Christian Watson, Cofounder, Local Propeller Inc

Customization is easy! After generating insights via Ask AI, go to Add Widgets > Objects > Textbox in your dashboard interface. Then, add as much or as little AI-generated text as you please, making text edits as needed.

When you’re done, there’s the option to flip this dashboard into a downloadable report, send an email, or generate a shareable link. If you’re editing a dashboard AI Summary, simply click the three dots in the widget followed by “Edit.” Similarly, click the AI Summary text box in any AgencyAnalytics report to make adjustments. It’s that simple!

Use AI Data Analysis To Increase Efficiency and Your Value Proposition

As we’ve covered, AI analytics tools are changing the reporting process… for the better. With a tool like AgencyAnalytics, it’s much easier to access AI-generated insights, turn raw data into digestible insights, and maximize those precious billable hours.

To get the most from these features:

• Use Ask AI to Produce On-Demand, Data-Driven Insights: Whether you’re selecting a pre-defined prompt or typing a custom question, this AI-based analytics solution quickly explains campaign performance. Identify potential opportunities, pinpoint issues, and even uncover hidden wins!

• Create a Concise AI Summary: Maximize your client’s time by sharing a high-level performance overview. This ensures they’ll grasp key takeaways, all while significantly reducing your report prep time.

• Add a Touch of Customization: AI complements your expertise–it doesn’t replace it. When needed, edit AI-generated insights or summaries for extra personalization.

Use our data analytics AI features to share relevant insights and improve customer satisfaction. Ready to try it for yourself? Explore AgencyAnalytics today–sign up for a risk-free 14-day trial.