On-demand Webcast | Shaping the Future Workforce with AI and Intelligent Technology

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping today’s business landscape. We’ve seen its transformative capabilities first-hand and now is the time to address its potential and discuss how it can be integrated into our workforce.

In this SAP Concur webcast, Shaping the Future Workforce with AI and Intelligent Technology, Brian Veloso, Managing Director at SAP Concur Canada digs into the foundations of AI and its implications for shaping the future workforce. He is joined by experts Paolo Granata, Associate Professor at the University of Toronto and Cultural Strategist for the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, Zoe Willis, National Data and Digital Leader at KPMG Canada, and Tom Olson, Vice President of Managed Business Services at SAP Concur.

What is AI?

According to Paolo, “We are witnessing a pivotal moment where human intelligence extends its reach to machines, enabling them to perform specific tasks of any intelligence.” But what is AI? AI is rapidly evolving in a field that aims to create intelligent machines capable of mimicking human cognitive functions. Generative AI refers to AI systems that have the ability to generate content without explicit programming. What sets them apart from traditional software or algorithms is their capacity to make decisions and produce creative output without explicit human instructions.

Adopting AI in the Workplace

The impact of AI on businesses is substantial. Factors like employee hesitation and the novelty of AI can influence this progression. Additionally, regulations and compliance can be time-consuming. And yet, AI is an essential tool to manage the unexpected.

Paolo also mentions that, “The notion of AI performing autonomous tasks is intriguing to many, as it represents a shift in what was once exclusively human. However, it enables workers to leverage AI capabilities to make faster and smarter decisions as workers play a vital role in verifying AI results, given the bias and factual inaccuracies of the internet.”

During the panel, the importance of adopting AI and its benefits in the workplace are emphasized. Tom points out that, “AI can boost efficiency and productivity through automating highly repetitive tasks, improving data analytics within businesses and optimizing operational processes, ultimately leading to increased efficiency.” As a result, employees can focus on more strategic and creative tasks.

Compliance solutions like Verify from SAP Concur, can seamlessly combine transactions, identify inconsistencies, and notify audit teams of any additional actions required, reducing audit times by more than 50 percent, resulting in significant efficiency improvements.

According to Zoe’s experience at KPMG, “Almost half of organizations in Canada today, are implementing AI-based solutions, while others are hesitating because they don't know what the scale might be or how it could benefit them.” She goes on to say, “Companies still hesitant about its implementation can start by highlighting the one-off tasks that could potentially benefit from it to measure its impact on the business.”

Looking Ahead: AI and the Future of Work

So, what are the next steps? Education and training. These are crucial to ensure that employees have the necessary skills to effectively use AI tools within their business context. Businesses will continue to promote knowledge sharing and encourage cross-collaboration to leverage the tech-savvy and non-tech-savvy talents within their teams. As employees become more comfortable with technology, concerns about data privacy and ethics arise. But, to address this, businesses should handle employee data prudently, obtain informed consent, establish clear data usage guidelines, and provide employee training to empower them in data decisions. Conducting human intelligent audits ensures ethical tech integration.

AI is a transformative force in the workplace. Businesses need to adapt, embrace change, and prioritize ethical and responsible AI integration to shape a successful future workforce.

To hear more insights about how businesses can use AI solutions to face today’s challenges and stay ahead in their industries, watch the full webinar here.