“Nobody can really predict what the future of this technology is going to look like,” explains Dr Christian Zagel, Professor of Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Digital Future Technologies at Coburg University of Applied Sciences. “It could continue to evolve rapidly or stagnate somewhat, e.g. if employees refuse to use it. However, I’d say that AI has reached a degree of maturity in some areas that means it’s impossible to imagine life without it.”
Stephan Schnieber, AI Leader at IBM Technologies, agrees that it’s no longer a question of “whether” but “how”: “I see AI as absolutely essential. Companies have no choice but to tackle the issue. Anyone who buries their head in the sand or acts too late could end up sacrificing their competitiveness.”
Stephan Schnieber believes that one of the reasons why companies have been slow to embrace AI is an unwillingness to take risks and be innovative. Plus, he adds, digitalisation has not yet progressed far enough in Germany to supply the data that AI applications need. These are cautionary words in the face of a technology that offers a great many opportunities.
Which strategy is the right one in the face of major changes?
Roland König believes that being open to new technology is important in this context and that AI can play a key role in cushioning the impact of VUCA. He feels that it helps companies to make the right decisions in order to come up with agile and sustainable strategies. However, he adds, they must be aware that different use cases and tasks will also require different AI technologies.
“There is no universal AI that can solve everyone’s problems,” Roland König continues. “AI isn’t a standalone technology either; it needs people, and people ultimately need it. It’s only as part of this symbiotic relationship that AI will be able to be put to good use. Managers should be willing to permit change and get staff involved in the process right from the start. This is the only way to make sure that AI will be implemented successfully.”
What are the hallmarks of an innovation culture?
“Innovation culture is much more than a day-long creative workshop,” Dr Christian Zagel adds. “It stands in opposition to conservative and patriarchal systems and is shaped by how people interact. In particular, this includes making your staff feel valued and appreciated by communicating with them in a targeted way, e.g. by asking them what they think.” He believes that there is work still to be done in this area, not least in terms of training: in Germany, most courses still retain their traditional structure, with professors furnishing information in a lecture and students listening attentively – or not, as the case may be.
How to go about maximising added value with the right strategy
Roland König recommends using pragmatic examples to work out where you want to be, believing that you need to understand the processes in play in your company and recognise where AI can actually increase efficiency. “Firms should examine where AI can help add value and how they can optimise business processes right up to their clients’ level,“ he says. “Bechtle guides companies throughout their entire AI transformation. Our teams help to define use cases, implement them on the technology front and scale them up. Rather than being a process with a set beginning and end, AI is constantly evolving.”
Stephan Schnieber agrees: “A bit-part approach to AI, such as just using ChatGPT to write your texts, isn’t enough for a root-and-branch transformation of your business. Companies should think bigger and look ahead when it comes to choosing their use cases. IBM is working with Bechtle to validate the feasibility of and value inherent in possible use cases from the client’s perspective so that pilot projects can be implemented successfully and the risk on the company’s side can be minimised.”
Conclusion: act now?
Dr Christian Zagel, Stephan Schnieber and Roland König all agree that AI makes companies more competitive by making their business processes more efficient. We just need the confidence to lead from the front once in a while. As well as factoring the risks that AI could pose into our strategic planning, this also means considering the negative consequences of not introducing the technology in the first place. AI is not something that can be implemented overnight. The transformation will take time – a transition phase, in other words, in which companies can launch and evaluate selected pilot projects. So there is no better time than now to get started with AI!