The past few years have forced businesses across virtually every industry to rethink the way they operate. The quick shift from in-office to fully remote workspaces has changed the way businesses manage their day-to-day operations, making technology and artificial intelligence (AI) more important than ever. In fact, a June 2021 report from the IDC reported that organizations will spend around $656 billion on future-of-work technologies.
AI is a key pillar in the future of work as many organizations continue to offer hybrid and even fully remote work options. Here are some ways you can bring artificial intelligence into your office.
Virtual Assistants.
Virtual assistants and chatbots have become part of our daily lives. Whether we’re asking Siri for directions or chatting with a customer service representative while online shopping, virtual assistants simulate human interaction using AI to recognize contextual patterns and learn how to provide the appropriate responses. In the workplace, virtual assistants and chatbots offer employees support and assistance, automating many of the tasks that they might have previously done manually. These tasks include taking notes, scheduling meetings, setting reminders and more. In addition, chatbots help employees find the support that they need as it pertains to company policies and benefits, or even tracking goals and job performance.
Office Automation.
Employees expect their office environment to be as high-tech as the rest of their lives. Office automation makes processes more efficient and effective, saving your business more time, money, and resources. Automating things like resource allocation, assignments, payroll, PTO, and data management gives employees more time to focus on what they do best.
Meeting Scheduling.
Remote and hybrid workspaces can make scheduling meetings a bit more difficult, especially now that the days of the typical “9-5” are gone. Meeting scheduling tools help facilitate meeting planning by enabling users to input their availability so that attendees can select meeting times that work best for them. This eliminates the need for several emails trying to lock in the perfect time that works. Syncing up with their calendars, these tools save tons of time and frustration as they streamline the entire meeting scheduling process.
Collaboration Devices and Technology.
Employees aren’t always going to be in the same place at the same time–they may not even be in the same time zones. This means an engaging, collaborative environment, backed by the appropriate devices and technology, is critical to ensuring your organization has the appropriate video conferencing solutions and AV technology in place. Collaboration devices and technology utilize the power of AI to integrate multiple tools in one location, increasing productivity and employee engagement. With this technology, employees can create workspaces with workflows across multiple individuals or teams. For example, if an advertising agency is working on creating a digital ad, they can build a workflow that includes all of the necessary tasks that need to be completed in order to get that ad from concept to completion. The great thing about collaborative technology is that all the context for each conversation, task, and meeting is carried throughout the workspace. This helps team members get a pulse on a specific project, or pick up where a previous team member left off–whether remote or in the office.
Social Distancing and Cleanliness.
When coming into the office, employees want to know that the environment is safe, clean, and compliant with current COVID-19 guidelines. There are several AI-powered technologies that organizations can take advantage of that help keep employees feeling safe, confident, and comfortable while at the workplace. Social distancing technology alerts employers of the number of employees in specific locations based on Wi-Fi and occupancy-setting devices. Space-planning software and tools help employees make smart planning decisions about when and where to be in the office, especially when it comes to scheduling meetings or time in the office for remote or hybrid employees.
To learn more about integrating AI into your organization, contact us today–we’d love to help you get started.
