*By Adriano Almeida
Every day we see news about new doors opened by Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the business environment, whether to improve process efficiency, predict trends or help boost the company's growth in general. And in this context, leaders and executives are increasingly guiding their projects based on making the most of this technology.
To get an idea of the situation, a recent IBM survey shows that 51% of Brazilian Chief Data Officers (CDOs) are using AI and data to improve their choices more quickly. Furthermore, another study carried out with more than 370 CEOs and C-levels of national companies, carried out by the Data-Makers agency, shows that 28% of the tool's use cases focus on supporting decision-making.
The reason behind these numbers is simple: AI goes beyond automating and accelerating the analysis process, it brings greater qualification to everything linked to the company when used with the appropriate knowledge. This allows leaders to rely on this information to obtain essential business insights, identifying effective strategies, detecting gaps and anticipating market movements.
Basically, it is a resource that affects efficiency and productivity, two of the most important words valued by C-levels in everyday corporate life. By optimizing operations and assisting employees in their activities within the company, leaders can have a complete view of what is happening internally, based on data, and then use their expertise to provide strategic direction.
What are the biggest challenges for companies when implementing AI?
Just like any new thing full of potential, AI is not without challenges. And there is no doubt that one of the main concerns faced by leaders regarding its use is data security and privacy.
As this technology becomes more embedded in various aspects of business operations, there is a growing need for information and privacy protection strategies to be more proactive and dynamic. Only in this way is it possible to establish clear internal policies regarding your applications, opening up space for teams to innovate in a safe manner.
As Mark Strande, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Miro, stated in a recent interview: “the challenge lies not only in ensuring the robustness of security measures, but also in validating the accuracy and reliability of these new AI technologies.”
It is also worth highlighting that the ability of leaders to manage changes is essential to guide, encourage and engage teams in the use of this tool. Understanding the importance of this resource in business growth and efficiency is as relevant as its incorporation itself, which is why executives need to worry about training and inspiring teams according to this new digital reality.
No wonder, AI development programs have been going beyond the tech bubble. Companies will increasingly demand adaptable professionals, with strong analytical and critical thinking skills focused on the universe of data and Machine Learning.
How to prepare to integrate AI into strategic planning?
For companies that want to remain competitive, developing employees in this technology is not an optional issue. Therefore, it is important for leaders to look at some factors in the AI incorporation process. For example, identifying which areas can benefit most from integrating the tool into their systems, whether Human Resources (HR), Training and Development (T&D), Business Intelligence (BI) or Marketing and Communication departments.
Another point of attention is the assessment of which technologies available on the market can be used in a complementary way to AI, such as analytics, automation, and others. This includes understanding the Return on Investment (ROI) of these unions and adapting their applications to the company's specific needs.
And, above all, C-levels must understand that resisting technological advancement means going backwards. Embracing the digital era ensures that people are prepared to deal with a constantly evolving reality, ensuring that any innovative idea is not light years away from being realized.
*Adriano Almeida is leader of Alura for Business, business unit of alura, the largest technology learning ecosystem in Brazil, which supports and drives organizations with people development solutions in technology.
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