08/02/17 9:27:31
'Avanade Technology Vision 2017', focused on setting out new trends for the next three years, explains that we are on the cusp of a new decade of digital disruption driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation. The report states that the first era of AI will bring new opportunities for organizations - similar to the PC revolution of the 1990s - but they must begin their transformation now.
Avanade's report highlights that the emergence of the first era of AI is already creating new ways in which companies interact with and serve their customers and employees. For example, by augmenting employee capabilities using AI - especially through intelligent automation, Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and physical automation - organizations will enable their employees to achieve bigger and better results through smarter actions. In addition, as cloud, Big Data and mobile continue to converge, the report predicts that AI-driven user interfaces (UIs) will lead to deeper and more meaningful interactions, a "situation centricity" tailored not just to each customer or employee, but to their unique and specific situation.
The report also highlights the importance of organizations acting responsibly and adopting "digital ethics" as every digital action can have equal and potentially unintended consequences. The rise of AI is changing the way we live, work and understand the world and this "digitization of everything" requires a new level of corporate responsibility.
"AI is not only reinventing digital customer experiences, but it's also going to be the most important technology resource for an organization's employees," says Chris Miller, Director of Technology Innovation at Avanade. "As simpler or repetitive tasks become more automated, we will see each worker's available time increase. Time that can be used to perform tasks that are important to them and the organization they work for.
'Avanade Technology Vision 2017' identifies five actions companies can already take to survive and thrive in the first era of AI:
1. Embrace AI as a new experience: Customers will not only be in apps or on the Internet. Customers will expect AI assistants and invisible user interfaces, as well as differential experiences in voice, mixed or augmented reality and haptic or touch.
2. Enhance the capabilities of your workforce: The gains we have achieved through innovation in workplace productivity have reached a tipping point, and AI will help organizations reach new levels of efficiency and effectiveness. An AI-developed and AI-driven workforce will also help companies attract and retain new generations of workers.
3. Integrate into the platform economy: Organizations must be prepared to create and join AI-driven borderless platforms within their sector or industry - and others - to reach customers where they are and want to be.
4. At all times take a DesignOps approach: The combination of Design Thinking and modern engineering principles will be necessary for the digital transformation of the enterprise to a fully user-centric entity. Organizations must start now to build a culture, mindset and business model ready for a DesignOps (Design Operations) revolution - where everyone is focused on the user and value.
5. Act responsibly and plan for collateral consequences: The rise of AI is fundamentally changing everything about the way we live, work and understand our world. Organizations must develop a Digital Ethics Framework that addresses issues such as data security, trust and privacy, and provides guidelines on how data should be sourced and used.
Miller adds, "Artificial Intelligence has become a reality. Organizations that move now to take advantage of AI will achieve new heights in productivity, as well as greater workplace engagement and increased employee satisfaction."
More information on 'Avanade Technology Vision 2017', in this link.
