2023 was the year that made the whole world pause, creating a difficult time for many businesses. Despite the challenges, there were some benefits; the hiatus provided space for many employers and service providers to consider whether they could change how they operate.
The pandemic underlined the importance of having a digital presence and doing more than just paying lip service. The companies that flourished in the harsh economic conditions were primarily the ones that had a robust relationship with technology and were already leading the field in innovation.
No matter what industry you work in, artificial intelligence and automation are key to moving forward.
Here's a look at some of the critical trends for 2024 that your business should be adopting.Leading By Example:
Before drilling down into the specifics, it's worth pausing for a moment to take a look at a company that's demonstrating how successful you can be by embracing new tech.
Wegmans is a supermarket chain that has forged a reputation for being a leader in its field when innovating and adopting cutting edge technology.
You may be more familiar with them through the Wegmans monthly flyer, where you can find the best bargains and latest offers. However, they're not just a big value brand, and behind the scenes, they've worked hard to offer customers the choices they demand in 2024 and beyond.
One of the priorities for Wegmans was developing a delivery app. Using their passion for technology, customers could enjoy browsing the monthly ads in the same way as usual but having the benefits of home delivery.
Not content with this, Wegmans became the first supermarket chain in the US to be AIRA-enabled. Artificial Intelligence Remote Access - AIRA - is a system that was designed to support users who are blind or have sight restrictions.
Using either wearable tech or a smartphone, customers can receive assistance from a trained professional who can help them using a combination of live camera, GPS, map s and online information.
Voice Control:
Voice control hasn't advanced as much in the workplace as other types of automation, but the wide use in the home, such as Siri and Alexa, has proven that there's an enormous capacity to explore.
It's not just convenient; in the post-COVID world where people are anxious to avoid infection, voice control can resolve some concerns about using public services.
For example, all types of voice control tech will enable workers to avoid touching surfaces and allow shoppers to buy what they want without fear of picking up the virus.
Business experts believe that voice control is likely to feature in every type of workplace, from supermarkets to offices, right through to call centers. And it's not expected to be a fad; it will become one of the most important marketing trends that every business will be keen to adopt.
As well as providing convenience, voice control can help personalize interaction with a company or a brand.
By carefully selecting the voice on their technology, developing an almost-human relationship between the end-user and the tech will be possible.
Next Generation Automation:
Automation of mundane tasks has already been happening for some time, freeing workers to concentrate on areas that deliver real value.
It's expected that next-generation automation is likely to expand the range of tasks that are possible for machines, with non-routine and more complex demands being automated.
It's not anticipated that AI will replace jobs as doom-mongers have predicted, but almost every role will include some elements of automation.
AI will either take over the bulk, common elements of a task or provide human workers with better insights and accuracy to perform their tasks more efficiently.
Just like voice control, automation has become more popular since the pandemic. AI has allowed workers and customers alike to minimize their physical interactions, slashing the opportunities for infection.
Automation could make it easier for employees to work remotely or for delivering online services to customers. Using a combination of automation, AI and chatbots, many businesses have overhauled the fundamentals of their strategy, eliminating vulnerabilities and creating a more robust model.
In the past, there was a growing concern that too much was being automated and that there should be an emphasis on the manual completion of tasks.
However, since the pandemic, there has been a wider acceptance of automation and a new appetite to integrate AI alongside human workers to provide more protection without compromising service standards.
Using Zoom and other digital technology has provided many with fresh insights into a new way of doing things, and the use of AI and machine learning will be critical to allowing this to continue and develop further.
Conclusion:
These changes are expected to close the skills gap and enhance productivity, with an estimated one billion expected to utilize AI virtual assistants by 2025.
This will enable human employees to upskill, deliver greater job satisfaction, and emphasize personal development in the future.
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