Richard Owen, Director of Digital Workplace Solutions, Unisys
There’s no doubt about it. In modern business, Artificial Intelligence stands poised as a game-changer, reshaping how organisations operate and innovate. Picture this: by the end of Q3 2023, discussions about Generative AI had surged to over 2,000 corporate meetings – a stark contrast from the silent whispers of its absence just a year before.
The buzz around AI isn’t mere hype nor just a tool; it has transformative potential that promises to completely change workflows across industries. From automating repetitive tasks to unlocking new insights from vast datasets, AI allows businesses to work smarter and faster. However, integrating AI isn’t as simple as flipping a switch; it requires thoughtful strategy and precise execution to really reap the benefits.
Choosing your Copilot wisely
Not all AI copilots are created equal. With various versions, it can be challenging to determine which copilot is best for your organisation’s team, whether they be part of your IT, sales or marketing departments. For example, Microsoft takes pride in positioning M365 Copilot as ‘your copilot for work’ due to its compliance with AI data standards and ability to integrate across all your day-to-day applications in the Microsoft ecosystem, such as Outlook, Teams, PowerPoint and Word. Consequently, your teams can access AI assistance consistently as they weave through a busy day of ever-changing tasks.
Company-wide deployment can be quite challenging. Your organisation must be certain they can achieve this adoption. To avoid delay or setbacks to deployment, your team needs to be able to demonstrate the value and impact of your adoption. This means having a vision for the time and resources that an AI assistant saves. To do this, you’ll need a strategy that outlines a personalised set of outcomes, showing how this surplus of time and workforce will be better used. The benefits from this reallocation must not be lost or miscommunicated as the message ascends through management, so keep these as straightforward as possible.
Safeguarding your AI investment
After deciding to invest, it is time to deploy your AI assistant to your users. It’s vital to remember that, as with all AI technology, the integration of any copilot will come with its set of challenges. First, who will get access? Will it be rolled out indiscriminately to the whole workforce? Or might you look for a specific employee persona who can benefit the most? Other tasks including assigning the appropriate base license and making sure applications are updated across the entire team structure are other boxes that need to be ticked.
With the first Artificial Regulation Bill released by the EU earlier this year, establishing safe and ethical AI systems within your organisation should be a top priority for your team. Leaders also need to ensure that data is being properly managed to get the most accurate results.
Lastly, organisational change management is paramount to adopting an AI assistant and defining who will get access to it. While there are undeniable advantages to training your team to deploy your AI assistant to your users, it is time to proactively explore the world of AI and the various solutions available, including a positive impact on return on investment (ROI), using authorised products is deemed the best practice to avoid data breaches from less reliable tech and protect your company IP.
Changing what AI looks like in your organisation
As organisations deploy AI assistants, at the same time they embark on a journey of continuous adaptation and innovation. Whether it be an HR department being able to identify top talent from a sea of applicants faster than before, or a sales team being able to predict customer preferences, the opportunities are rife. Indeed, many may feel discouraged when they realise an AI assistant won’t do all their work but it is important to remember that with tools such as M365 Copilot, this is a copilot, not a pilot, and should be treated as such.
By leveraging the right AI tools and frameworks, businesses and their teams can better integrate AI into their strategy seamlessly across their organization. Unlocking new levels of efficiency, productivity and competition.
