Whether using artificial intelligence as a personal assistant, to automate processes or to help improve emails and content, there are many ways to leverage this versatile technology for business these days. In fact, there are so many that determining the usages that will benefit your business most might seem overwhelming.
One thing is for sure—nearly every business can benefit from using AI in some form. Here, eight members of Forbes Coaches Council discuss the advice they’d share with clients to help them decide if AI is right for them and, if so, how to best leverage it.
1. Find A Compelling Reason Or Vision
I would ask the client what they were trying to get out of using AI and how they see it working for them. Don’t leverage technology just to say you’re leveraging technology. There has to be a reason to invest time, money and energy into new technology. If there isn’t a compelling reason or vision, then don’t get locked into a “solution” with no problem. That’s how you waste a lot of resources, fast. – Dhru Beeharilal, Nayan Leadership, LLC
2. Decide Which Areas Of Your Business Would Benefit Most
First, it’s important to figure out which area or areas of your business would benefit most from implementing AI. Once you’ve done that, it’s time to start evaluating different AI platforms and solutions to find the one that best fits your needs. Finally, don’t forget to consider the potential risks associated with artificial intelligence, and put safeguards in place to mitigate them. – Peter Boolkah, The Transition Guy
3. Automate Tasks That Demotivate Your Team
Instead of looking at the technology, look at your people. What activities energize and inspire your people, and which ones deflate and demotivate them? Leverage technology to do more of what detracts from positive company culture, leaving more of the “good stuff” for your people. Inspired and engaged people work harder, stay longer and attract better talent. – Erica McCurdy, McCurdy Solutions Group LLC
4. Look For Processes That Are Consistent And Repeatable
Introducing artificial intelligence into your business can help you to minimize the menial. But you have to use it the right way. It’s imperative to find processes within your company that are consistent and repeatable and introduce bots to handle those tasks, which in turn will free others up to handle tasks that cannot be handled through artificial intelligence. – Jon Dwoskin, The Jon Dwoskin Experience
5. Use Data To Support Decision Making
The best way to introduce AI into an organization would be to analyze and exploit big data to support decision making in delivering value to clients. The automation of intelligent decision making becomes a strategic lever, and the benefits are not only perceptible by the company (in the form of increased agility) but also by the customer (in the value consumed through the service offered). – Andre Shojaie, City of Montreal
6. Ensure You Have A Solid Strategy And Good Data Set
To leverage AI well, the effort should be nested within a broader digitalization and knowledge management strategy. The type of questions that the client wants to have answered should drive the discovery of the suitability of various platforms. More importantly, the client needs a data strategy and a good data set in order to allow for machine learning and AI to work through a robust business tech approach. – Thomas Lim, Singapore Public Service, SportSG
7. Look To Your Network For Ideas
Many industries are making strong headway in this space and are speaking at conferences to share their experiences. Consultants have great experiences to share and can provide perspectives on how others are using AI. Additionally, through a strong network within your own industry, you can exchange useful ideas to help jumpstart the conversation on how to leverage AI. Basically, lean on the experts. – Kimberly Janson, Janson Associates, LLC
8. Conduct Structured Discovery Workshops
AI is an enabling technology that is utilized in places where there is a lot of “signal” (valid data points), a high degree of “structure” to the work, and a strong pay-off at the end of the process. Conducting structured discovery workshops with business leaders is an important first step in determining where the business and the technologists are aligned on the value of the AI expedition. – Ben Levitan, Cedalion Partners
Source: forbes.com
