Redefining the way of working: AI as an enabler of labour productivity
[Ignacio Barahona, Managing Partner and Head of Data Analytics & Modern BI at Innova-tsn for Revista Capital]
Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way business processes are conceived and has highlighted the importance of its raw material: data. Today, companies have welcomed with open arms an unprecedented advance, which exceeds in impact the arrival of the Internet, and have embarked on integrating AI-based solutions. According to a McKinsey study, 65% of organisations are implementing this type of solution in their areas of action.
Moreover, AI does not only apply to external processes but, correctly used and with appropriate training, it is becoming a fundamental pillar for every worker’s daily activities, including senior managers. In fact, there are many times when people reflect on how a worker can implement AI in his or her routine, but that is not the question. At this point, the question is: how can a worker not implement AI in their routine?
Nowadays, it is practically inevitable not to apply AI in our day-to-day lives. If we stop to think about it, when we use virtual assistants like Siri, Google Assistant or Copilot to delegate administrative tasks, from finding the best route to a meeting to writing and sending an email, we are making direct use of AI.
For example, one of the most widespread use cases is that of information analysis. Companies are not just using a machine learning model to analyse the behaviour of visitors to a website, for example, but are going further, taking advantage of the analysis capabilities built into the tools we use every day, such as Acrobat Reader. Adobe’s popular solution has an AI-based assistant that analyses each document we open to automatically summarise it and offer a series of suggestions, in the form of questions, about the text.
The advantages of AI are many, but it has to be gradually and consciously implemented. It is vital to do it little by little and start with the automation of simple tasks. In addition, the right tools must be chosen, and to do so, research must be carried out to select those that best suit the needs of each organisation.
“It is essential that technical profiles and decision-makers, such as CIOs, CISOs or CDOs, are aligned with the human resources department”
However, there is one aspect that is fundamental and without which the previous ones are worthless: training. In order to be able to work efficiently, safely and get the most out of this type of solution, it is essential to have ad hoc training and to be aware that training is the best ally to get the most out of it.
To this end, it is essential that technical profiles and decision-makers, such as CIOs, CISOs or CDOs, are aligned with the human resources department so that they can work collaboratively to draw up a training plan that adapts to the needs of the position and allows employees to obtain the greatest competitive advantages, efficiency and productivity from AI-based solutions.
An example of the benefits brought by the integration of these tools in organisations is the automation of recurrent tasks. In the HR department there is more and more software using AI to automate salary management, answer frequent questions in the employee portal or filter job profiles objectively and without bias. By taking on these tasks, technology frees workers so that they can actually focus on those actions requiring differential human value.
Thus, regardless of the job position, artificial intelligence offers a wide range of advantages that, if used correctly, can lead to increased productivity, competitiveness and efficiency. Factors that are widely differential in an increasingly globalised and demanding market.
