"ChatGPT told me about you."

These words caught us off guard during two recent client calls. 

We market our services of building websites, web apps, mobile apps, and business process systems for years online— through our website, social media channels, online directories, and more… but this was something entirely new.

These companies approached us for our services after discovering Symph through ChatGPT and Perplexity.

We weren't actively optimizing to be found this way. We hadn't developed a strategic plan to be recommended by AI assistants. Yet somehow, we got  suggested as a solution provider for businesses looking for technology partners.

A New Dimension of Digital Discovery

We all know that AI is fundamentally reshaping industries from healthcare to finance, but this experience gave us a firsthand glimpse into how it's also transforming how businesses discover solutions.

When companies need a provider, their journey to finding the right provider is evolving beyond traditional search.

Beyond Simple Search Results

Traditional search engines deliver links that match keywords. You search for "web apps development company" and get a list of websites that have optimized for those terms.

But AI tools like ChatGPT operate differently. They generate responses based on patterns, relevance, and a deeper understanding of information. When someone asks, "Who can help build a business process system for my manufacturing company?" These tools don't just match keywords—they recommend solutions based on a much broader analysis.

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This means the entire framework for how businesses are discovered could be fundamentally changing before our eyes.

Content with Purpose May Drive AI Visibility

As we reflected on this new “marketing channel”, we realized something important: for years, we've made a consistent effort to openly share our thoughts, experiences, and insights about business, technology, and innovation.

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We've written about our work developing websites and web apps that convert visitors to customers, creating mobile apps that help businesses connect to their customers, and implementing business process systems that drive efficiency.

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It's possible that our consistent sharing of our insights helped position us as a relevant solution in the AI's recommendation algorithm.

The Shifting Landscape of Business Discovery

This doesn't mean every company will suddenly get leads through AI (or that we will receive more leads this way), but it raises important strategic questions:

• As technology evolves, how will businesses build trust and credibility in a world where AI increasingly assists in decision-making?
• What role will content play when AI systems— not just human searchers— evaluate your expertise?
• How might recommendations for your services change when filtered through AI rather than traditional search engines?

Building for an AI-Augmented Future

While we're still processing this new development, a few considerations seem clear for businesses across industries:

1. Demonstrate expertise transparently. Create content that genuinely helps your audience understand your area of expertise, whether that's custom software development or any other specialty.
   
2. Focus on solving real problems. Whatever your solutions are, clearly articulate the specific challenges you solve and the results you deliver.
   
3. Build a comprehensive digital footprint. Your presence across platforms, from your website to social media to industry publications, likely all contribute to how AI systems understand your capabilities.
   

A New Chapter in Business Discovery

This experience has opened our eyes to yet another way that AI is reshaping commerce. While traditional marketing channels remain important, we're now watching with interest as this new dynamic unfolds.

For businesses seeking solutions, the journey to finding the right partner may increasingly involve AI assistance. And for providers of these services, understanding this evolution may become an important part of remaining visible in a changing landscape.

We're curious: Have you discovered a business through AI recommendations? Or has your company been found through these new channels? Share this post and let us know your experience! 

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Story by Jice Ayop, Symph Content Marketing Intern 2025