With the advancement of AI technology moving at a rapid pace, it raises questions along a theme of “Why can’t I just get AI to handle my transformation?”. AI is an exponentially growing presence in business, with organisations using it to unlock efficiencies and achieving automated goals outpacing competition and developing at speed, but can it handle everything?
While AI is undoubtedly a powerful tool, transformation requires more than automation, the human elements of strategy, empathy and human oversight cannot be underestimated.
AI Power in Transformation
AI tools and machine learning have superseded the efficiency boosts that early automation brought to transformation. With the introduction of AI, speed, data analysis, pattern recognition and saleability have changed from labour intensive tasks that require large teams and extended deadlines, to tasks that can be consistently achieved.
We have seen specific tools and examples where AI already excels.
Customer service bots that have been trained on previous volumes of queries to alleviate easy-win requests that can be solved without a human.
Predictive analytics to spot reoccurring issues or opportunities.
Adaptation tools that take a single piece of content and repurpose it using clearly defined brand guidelines to make alternative versions in a flash.
Audio-listening assistants that create transcriptions from complex meetings.
AI can do a lot, and its capabilities are growing every day, but that doesn’t mean it can do everything.
AI’s limits
While we have explored the capabilities that AI can bring to a transformation, it is also key to explore the elements of transformation that AI can’t do well… yet.
Digital transformations are not a series of individual isolated decisions; they are strings of multifaceted branches of choices that weave together to form coherent change. Complex decisions that require nuance, context and judgement that comes from past experiences are not tasks that AI can handle alone.
Business Readiness the structured approach of change management and operational training to ensure that your people are prepared for a digital transformation is an inherently human-focused activity. You could argue the use of AI tools to help you prepare effective communications, analyse data, and undertake technical testing capabilities. On the other hand, cultural awareness, leadership, and empathy for a positive feedback loop remain items that require an experienced human touch.
Another aspect of transformation that firmly requires a human element is the unexpected. Being able to plug all the of the variables and questions into a tool will create an answer, but when you do not have the full picture, or the issue isn’t well-defined enough, humans are able to employ a level of creative problem solving that a machine could only dream of.
While AI is great at optimising a process, navigating queries such as conflicting stakeholder priorities remains a firmly human task with nuances that a machine cannot handle currently.
The Purpose of People
Digital transformation goes beyond tools. It is about people, processes and strategy in all the touchpoints that the transformation interacts with them.
“Completing” a digital transformation utilising a completely-AI created strategy and implemented using AI tools would theoretically be possible, but the results would likely be limited and would not consider the intricacies and nuance of your organisation. A machine can’t predict how your team is going to react to the change, how your leadership would prioritise the transformation, or even provide you with an individual who would lead the change. Without these three key elements, transformations can often fail.
Human intelligence and empathy are required for multiple purposes such as managing the change, stakeholder buy-in, and vision setting for longer term or intangible goals. AI comes in a variety of tools that can amplify the human capabilities of a team, but it cannot replace them. Especially in instances discussed above such as leadership and strategy.
AI in Digital Transformation Consultancies
Striking the right balance between technology and humanity is key in this age of digital transformation. The best transformation consultancies find this balance and utilise humans in the form of experienced consultants for their knowledge and expertise. The consultancies that are going to progress and grow during this phase of AI learning are those which are not anti-AI, but AI-augmented. Utilising tools where they can add benefits paired with the knowledge of individuals to form decision-making powerhouses.
Tools are only as effective as the people deploying them, AI or not. The collective experience that we have here at Lean Tree means that we combine the best tools for your transformation, with the experience and humanity of our team and wider associates’ network to drive real, sustainable change.
Through our development plans and individual focuses, our team are constantly looking for ways to evolve the world of digital transformation and pass the benefits of this evolution onto our clients. Through this learning, both in the world of AI and external to it, they can stay at the top of the transformation game. This also allows Lean Tree’s consultants to identify when AI should be used to a client’s benefit, but also when it shouldn’t.
AI in Digital Transformation
As can be seen in many areas which the topic touches, AI is part of the equation, not the whole solution. The human element, whether external to your team, or not, remains critical in unlocking AI’s full value to your business.
Partnering with the right consultancy that blends technology and human insight to the best of its abilities can unlock greater value for your organisation. Get in touch with us to find out how we balance human expertise and AI technology to drive transformation.
