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In our August post, we looked at the ways AI can benefit the franchise industry going forward.
However, for those who are concerned that AI may indeed automate them out of a job or decimate their industry, Franchise Direct has looked at certain franchise industries that are more resilient to AI and won’t be impacted as much by its rapid implementation across society.
These sectors are the ones that require more human interaction and assistance and cannot be easily transitioned to automated operations.
Top AI-Resistant Franchise Industries
The following franchise industries are generally considered the safest from extensive AI automation:
- Healthcare and Care Services:
Franchises in this category often involve (and require) direct patient care and personal interaction. While AI can help with diagnostics, data analysis, and administrative work, it can't replace the empathy and trust required by roles like nursing, physical therapy, and counselling.
Hottest Home Care Franchise Opportunities for Sale Franchises
Prestige Nursing & Care
Looking to run a rewarding business that makes a real difference? If you’re passionate about care and want to serve your local community, a Prestige Nursing & Care franchise could be the perfect fit. Get in touch to learn more.
Clarity Homecare
There has never been a better time to join a Care Franchise. It’s a sector that you can genuinely be proud to be a part of, offering fantastic financial rewards.
- Education and Childcare:
Such as in healthcare, while AI can provide assistance with administrative tasks and personalised learning, teachers and tutors however offer real-life guidance, mentorship, and social development that are crucial for a student's growth. Franchises focused on early childhood education or tutoring services are well-protected from the AI boom in that respect.
Hottest Education Franchise Opportunities for Sale Franchises
Pitman Training
Start your own local training centre with the Pitman Training Franchise and transform the lives of people in your local area.
ActionCOACH
If you have a passion for business coaching, join this profitable entrepreneurial opportunity today!
- Handyman Franchises and Home Services:
These businesses require hands-on expertise and years of built-up knowledge, on-the-spot problem-solving, and adaptability to unique situations and emergencies. Jobs like plumbing, electrical work, and home restoration can be augmented by AI for things like scheduling and routing, but the core work itself is very difficult to automate.
Hottest Handyman Franchise Opportunities Franchises
Refresh Renovations
Join Refresh Renovations and help to deliver dream renovations to clients!
Dream Doors
Dream Doors is the UK's #1 kitchen makeover brand with 100 franchises nationwide.
The Kitchen Depot
Join one of the UK's fastest-growing kitchen franchise networks and the only kitchen franchise network to manufacture in the UK. Become part of The Kitchen Depot family and start your journey as a business owner today.
- Creative Services:
In what perhaps in the most threatened industry by AI, the creative and artistic world is still holding out against AI. While AI can generate content and designs, it truly lacks the unique human perspective, originality, and emotional depth required for fields like art, writing, and music. While we marvel at what AI can generate (advertisements/designs), the general public certainly does not want an entire industry overtaken by machines and algorithms. Great art comes from real human experiences and connections; something that cannot be replicated by machines. Franchises that focus on creative activities or instruction, such as painting studios or music schools, are typically AI-proof.
Hottest Entertainment Franchise Opportunities for Sale Franchises
The Travel Franchise
The Travel Franchise leads from the front of UK travel franchising.
- Senior Care:
Tese services are built on trust and personal relationships. Caregivers provide companionship and specific care that requires empathy and intuition, making these franchises highly resistant to automation. Many families prefer to have their loved ones cared by another human being than a formulaic machine.
Hottest Senior Care Franchise Opportunities For Sale Franchises
Prestige Nursing & Care
Looking to run a rewarding business that makes a real difference? If you’re passionate about care and want to serve your local community, a Prestige Nursing & Care franchise could be the perfect fit. Get in touch to learn more.
Clarity Homecare
There has never been a better time to join a Care Franchise. It’s a sector that you can genuinely be proud to be a part of, offering fantastic financial rewards.
- Pet Care
Services like dog walking and dog grooming require a niche skillset and very quick reactions and reflexes given how unpredictable animals can be.
Hottest Pet Franchise Opportunities for Sale Franchises
Barking Mad Dog Care
Love dogs and caring for them? Start your very own Barking Mad franchise today.
Why These Industries Are AI-Safe
What makes an AI-safe franchise is its reliance on human-centric skills. As has been demonstrated over the last few years, AI is excellent at automating repetitive tasks and processing vast amounts of data.
However, it still struggles with:
- Emotional Intelligence: Understanding and responding to human emotions is a complex skill that's vital for building relationships with customers and clients. In a recent customer service survey done by Kinsta, 93.4% of responders preferred interacting with a human agent rather than an AI bot. One of the reasons given in this survey was that 71.0% of respondents found that AI struggled with complex issues when engaged with.
- Complex Problem-Solving: Many real-life problems, especially in service-based industries, require non-linear thinking and adaptability that AI can't yet replicate. Customer complaints can’t always be predicted, so no matter how much training and learning AI has undergone, it may not be able to fully serve everyone’s needs and requirements.
- AI Buyer’s Remorse: Several companies in the last year have backtracked on their strategy of replacing workers with AI. Brands such as Klarna and IBM have quietly re-hired some of their human workers (particularly customers service roles) after they found the AI bots ‘did not produce the expected results’ according to the Economic Times. Multiple reports have indicated that that AI solutions implemented by Klarna did not match human performance, forcing the company to re-think it’s AI blueprint.
- Creativity and Originality: True innovation and artistic expression are deeply human. Many view the cuts and AI replacements in the creative industry as simply cost-saving measures, rather than groundbreaking technological advancements.
- Physical Dexterity: Manual, hands-on tasks that require fine motor skills and a physical presence are still the domain of humans.
- AI Costs: AI is very costly to run and maintain. From an environmental perspective, AI requires a huge amount of data and energy and puts enormous pressure on data centre across the globe. This leads to higher energy bills and consumption which is turn contributes to global warming and increased energy bills for the public and businesses.
Your Next Steps
If you’re interested in becoming a franchise owner, start by browsing some of Franchise Direct’s extensive UK franchise opportunities today!