This May, a study found that over 77% of organizations use or plan to use AI for automation within their business processes. Such priority on AI stems from its ability to enhance efficiency, drive innovation, and transform business operations. To remain competitive, organizations aim to implement these emerging capabilities into their processes and core technology systems. However, the ever-advancing nature of AI and automation complicates the strategic planning and decision making for process and technology modernization. How can an organization effectively leverage advanced automation to create completely new workflows with a technology that rapidly evolves? Should investments in AI/advanced automation be made today, or should organizations wait for the venders of their core technology systems to embed AI? How can an organization keep up with competition when modernizing with technologies that constantly change?
When assessing the advanced automation enabled by AI, leaders often view technology’s potential in terms of digital full-time equivalents that replace or supplement human processes. Digital FTEs are AI-powered tools and automation technologies that perform tasks traditionally handled by human employees, enabling organizations to streamline operations, reduce costs, and enhance productivity. These tools can manage everything from customer service interactions to data analysis and financial processing. By taking over repetitive and time-consuming tasks, digital FTEs free human employees to focus on strategic initiatives that drive innovation and growth. Like other AI, these automated technologies both evolve and remain crucial to modernization and competition.
At the heart of any successful modernization effort lies a solid digital backbone. This backbone consists of the core systems and processes that support an organization’s operations. Modernizing the digital backbone involves upgrading these critical systems to improve performance, functionality, and security. By addressing these foundational aspects, companies prepare for transformation with AI and automation technologies. Modernizing AI and automation technology requires an organization to thoroughly understand their backbone—which technologies they need, what are the highest value use cases for advanced automation, and how to approach the integration process. Such integration may involve altering previous business processes and organizational structures. As a whole, modernization of an organization’s digital backbone and automation technology usage will require strategy.
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In the first step of this journey, an organization must assess their current digital maturity—their existing technological landscape and the gaps that impede business capabilities. Visualization techniques, such as enterprise architecture blueprinting and business process mapping, help organizations see how their applications and processes integrate. By exposing functional and technical gaps, businesses can determine where improvements are needed and how AI and automation can play a role in addressing these gaps. Once most high value use cases for AI are aligned with functional and procedural gaps, assessments should be conducted on the financial and efficiency impacts of investing in AI modernization.
When integrating new automation technologies, organizations will also have to diligently connect both AI and human employees. Organizations may have to retrain human employees to co-work with AI and new automations that will disrupt existing workflows. Additionally, AI and automation require continuous monitoring and assessment of their value. Similar to the human capital management in structures and systems that monitors the performance and wellbeing of human employees, organizations will need to dedicate time and resources to governing and monitoring the performance of digital FTEs. When approaching modernization with digital FTEs, organizational and technology leaders must weigh these elements against their strategy roadmap and desired level of digital maturity. They must consider which systems are essential to their organization and which systems require improvement, simultaneously evaluating how to modernize their core systems in congruence with their workforce’s ability to effectively use the new technology and workflows.
Beyond the technical aspects of training and monitoring, organizations modernize their automation technologies by shifting the attitudes of their leaders. To successfully modernize AI, leaders must become evolutionary leaders. Such leaders must acquire a focused and clear understanding of where their organization is headed. With patience and commitment, leaders must assess and reassess current AI and automation technologies. This necessitates fostering a culture of continuous learning and adaptation, encouraging employees to embrace new technologies and providing them with the necessary training and resources. Leaders should promote a forward-thinking mindset, which emphasizes the importance of staying updated with the latest technological trends and advancements by developing Rivers of Information®. This cultural shift maintains the agility needed to capitalize effectively on AI and automation technologies.
If an organization can successfully modernize their digital workforce, they develop a digital halo—a relationship with digital tools so effective that constituents desire to use the organization’s services because of this effectiveness. Such a halo not only demonstrates an organization’s successful integration of AI and automated technologies but places them at the top of competition. Such a halo demonstrates a modernized digital backbone and a positive relationship between leaders and the process of modernization—the evolving status of AI and its challenging integration process.
Modernizing with AI and automation technologies is not just about upgrading systems; it’s about creating a dynamic, adaptable, and competitive digital ecosystem. Effective evolution management for this ecosystem involves not only implementing new technologies but ensuring that an organization can adapt and thrive in a constantly changing environment. A clear digital strategy is essential for guiding modernization efforts. This strategy should align with the organization’s business goals and provide a roadmap for integrating new technologies. By developing a robust digital backbone, integrating digital full-time equivalents, and training leaders to embrace change, companies can stay competitive and innovative in today’s digital age.
About the Author
A true believer in the value of communication in the written word, Ana Sakore strives to bring great care in every piece of content she produces. Ana studies English and Music at Messiah University and serves as FPOV’s writing intern.