Traditional industries, from ancient rug-making crafts to specialized manufacturing, are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to boost competitiveness, streamline back-office tasks, and scale operations.
At family-owned Kukoon Rugs in Newry, County Down, AI has become a daily tool across departments ranging from finance and marketing to supply chain and product design. Chief Executive Paul Vallely notes that while the centuries-old craft of rug making remains fundamentally the same, technology is transforming how products are designed, marketed, and delivered. Vallely highlights that AI handles repetitive office tasks, freeing staff to focus on analysis, research, and creative work.
Similarly, manufacturing firms are finding value in the technology. Seating Matters, a clinical seating manufacturer based near Limavady in Northern Ireland, integrates AI into daily operations to handle labor-intensive functions like accounting, data management, and finance. Managing Director Martin Tierney compares the impact of AI to the historical introduction of calculators and spreadsheets, emphasizing that it enhances human productivity rather than replacing jobs.
While companies like Seating Matters encourage employees to use AI tools for problem-solving under sensible guardrails—such as restricting sensitive patient and financial data—business leaders report that embracing the technology has ultimately led to improved efficiency, increased profitability, and expanded workforces.
