The concept of AI used to be considered the type of thing you would only hear about from science fiction programming, where robots and computers would be set out on destroying mankind, and taking over the world. In reality though, it’s safe to say that the fact is far from fiction. AI has proven to be a benign and useful presence with applications that are used in businesses of all sizes across the world. AI helps bring organizations into the future, by automating work processes and helping employees focus on other issues that are more complex and need a human touch. By getting the best results using AI and machine learning on digital processes, AI is certainly helping make the workplace merrier.
Work processes become more organized and efficient when AI is combined with deep learning. Very generally speaking, the ultimate goal is a blend of top-notch productivity and better management of data, so flaws can quickly be spotted and/or fixed. In turn, this helps provide a better user experience for customers, which lessens the heartache for employees and allows them to use their brains where it can be utilized best.
One of the most popular ways AI is being used in eCommerce is in the form of customer service chatbots, which help handle frequently asked questions and allow actual human agents to step in when necessary. Another popular form of AI in eCommerce is the concept of virtual personal shopping assistants, which save consumers from spending time searching numerous product pages across multiple websites to find products that are difficult to describe using textual search.
Many companies however, use data analytic methods that aren’t user-friendly and are ridden with glitches. Even larger companies are often found working off of outdated data from their intranet systems. Such outdated and unreliable methods often continue to be used because companies believe it saves them money, when in reality it’s the complete opposite. The result ends up being a loss in productivity, and internal (plus external) frustration over increased down time, never-ending queues, and a general sense of dissatisfaction across the board.
In these cases, AI is misunderstood, and it is this misunderstanding which prevents companies from achieving technological advancement. AI technology is made to work with you. It is programed accordingly to work alongside employees, and perfect tasks over time as it continues to learn from experience. There is, of course, a bit of a learning curve. According to Forbes,
…organizations must take a people-centric approach to supporting their workforces, which includes reskilling and helping employees adapt to newly shaped roles as a result of AI. We also believe that intelligent systems must be built in an ethical way, taking great care to avoid unintended biases, and to protect personal data. As we continue to invest, we are guided by these principles.
There are four ways AI impacts enterprises:
- Automating: In which key processes are automated, allowing employees to focus on value-add work by eliminating the need for them to do repetitive transactional tasks.
- Informing: Intelligent predictions and insights are given, which are used for planning and making decisions. This is where predictions and simulations come into play while factoring data science. It can be used to answer questions like, “How does the weather impact sales?” This helps with focus and offers suggestions on how to transform operations to drive business.
- Discovering: This is the point in which business transformations are noticeable, and employees are discovering ways to adapt. They can discover new ways to use AI to help fill in some gaps in their skillsets.
- Transforming: This is typically the final point of transformation in which the business functions completely differently from the pre-AI days. At this stage, multiple facets around the organization will have been restructured based on business intelligence. This includes everything from the core business model, to employee engagement/relations, to the hiring process of future employees.
It is essential for business leaders and executives to think ahead when it comes to approaching AI for their businesses, and embrace the many benefits that AI has to offer. It is quickly becoming the standard, and the advancements that are being made in AI cannot be undone or stopped. As a result, now is the time for businesses to determine how their employees can learn to work alongside AI, to help make processes easier and more efficient for all.