The key to making the most of the power of AI is empowering your people

By Fred Hagstroem

Recent analysis from the International Monetary Fund showing that artificial intelligence (AI) will impact forty percent of workers globally has placed the relationship between employees and technology at the forefront of organisation thinking. This shift is underscored by Emergn’s own survey findings, that reveal that a staggering 94% of new digital products and services will be AI-powered, or developed using AI, by 2028.

Businesses often ask, ‘What’s our AI strategy?’ instead of the more pertinent ‘What’s our strategy?’. It’s only once this question has been answered that an organisation should consider how AI can be adopted to create or advance competitive advantage. And it remains true that a good strategy starts with people. People-centred strategies are crucial for empowering a workforce through tailored learning and development, and fostering a culture that values collaboration, innovation, and individual growth. But to ‘empower’ means more than just ‘doing’. It means providing the necessary skills, tools and allow for challenging and improving how the work is done. By prioritising these themes, organisations can not only navigate the challenges posed by technological advancements, but also harness the full potential of their employees, integrating AI, or any given new technology, into their broader strategic vision.

A Blueprint For Successful AI Implementation

True AI integration and transformation requires a blend of expertise and continuous learning to adapt mindsets to new, advanced technologies. Successful implementation of AI must be judged on the value it adds to a company’s performance, with organisations checking if it’s valuable for them to adopt new technology.

As such, success is not purely about understanding advanced technology. Consistent and meaningful success is centred around training employees to make AI work for their organisation, innovative solutions, improved experiences, or increased efficiencies. Overlooking this aspect will result in technologies that are out of place or obsolete for the tasks in which companies are seeking to utilise them.

Working with many businesses who are on this journey, my experience tells me there are 5 key steps to take for businesses to generate good outcomes when applying AI:

1. Focus on outcomes.

For long-lasting success, organisations must align any implementation of advanced technologies with established business objectives. Organisations, in the implementation of advanced technologies, must focus on achieving tangible and specific goals. These objectives must be individual to the company, strengthening services, developing new products, or streamlining capabilities.

2. Strive for effectiveness before efficiency.

While AI can optimise processes by reducing resources, effectiveness is more important and useful in delivering successful outcomes. By focusing on effectiveness, companies can improve their long-term success as well as create a culture of being continuously creative, agile and efficient.

3. Identify and exploit bottlenecks.

Organisations must take advantage of any existing bottlenecks, using them as areas for experimentation and innovation. A recent Emergn survey highlighted that one-third of respondents believed their firms did not value experimentation, which they felt created an atmosphere of fearfulness and dampened innovative practices. This underlines the need for a shift in business considerations; employees must have the freedom to explore possibilities, capitalising on the opportunities that bottlenecks can present.

4. Increase the rate and quality of feedback.

The same survey also outlined how 80% of respondents felt that ‘rule by committee’ blocked creativity and innovation due to an excess of decision-makers, which decreased collaboration and meaningful feedback. To create a culture of continuous growth, strategies which deliver significant feedback must be interwoven throughout an organisation. This cultural shift must be fully integrated throughout the value chain. For example, Microsoft’s global success can be characterised, among other things, by its ability to harmonise feedback with existing and future business opportunities.

5. Empower your workforce with AI skills.

Organisations must adopt a comprehensive strategy that includes upskilling and nurturing their employees with a focus on tailored, individual learning experiences, deeply rooted in a culture that empowers. Those who do so will be at the forefront of building a technologically literate workforce.

After all, AI creates value through its effective implementation and not just through its technical possibilities. As we stand on the cusp of this technological revolution, the distinction between merely adopting AI for the sake of adoption and leveraging it to support and amplify business objectives is clear. By returning to that fundamental question of ‘What’s our strategy?’ businesses can craft a roadmap where AI enhances workforce capabilities, fosters a culture of continuous improvement, and ultimately accelerates the achievement of strategic goals.