Imagine a computer that chats with your customers 24/7 or helps you quickly make sense of vast amounts of data — that’s the power of AI. Short for artificial intelligence, AI refers to computer systems that can perform tasks that only a human could typically do, such as decision making, reasoning, and problem solving. 

We’re already seeing this in action with tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot. These tools are significantly changing the way people approach information and creativity, as they can answer any questions and assist with coding, writing, and other related tasks. 

Across industries, AI is being used in Australia and around the world to streamline operations and gain a competitive edge. As such, embracing and understanding the potential of AI is no longer optional; it’s essential for staying competitive and thriving in the years to come. 

In this blog, we’ll take a look at some real-world applications of AI in business, the benefits of AI training for business leaders, and how you can expand your knowledge in this technology.  

What are the Real-world Business Applications of AI? 

AI is being used in businesses in the following ways: 

1. Streamlining repetitive cognitive tasks 

For many years, businesses have already been using AI to automate repetitive tasks like data entry and customer service inquiries. Now, they’re harnessing generative AI technology for cognitive tasks, such as drafting communications, summarising reports, and personalising marketing campaigns. 

2. Upskilling workers 

AI can also offer guidance and advice that can help improve the skillset of employees. For instance, writing tools like Grammarly and DeepL Write use AI to catch misspellings, grammatical errors, and even suggest better ways to construct a sentence, thus improving a user’s writing. 

Moreover, generative AI can also enhance the learning curve of employees by providing interactive and personalised training modules. It can help identify skill gaps and recommend tailored learning paths, allowing workers to focus on areas that will have the most impact on their performance and career development. 

3. Innovation 

Many companies are using AI to innovate and offer new products and services. 

One of these is manufacturing company BHP, which uses AI to optimise the loading and offloading process for iron ore and then loading it onto ships for export. Thanks to the technology, BHP recorded a 105,000-tonne production saving in one area of its operations for the 2022-2023 financial year. 

Moreover, telecommunications company Telstra leverages AI in its customer service department to improve product recommendations and help customers get to what they need faster. The company also leverages the technology to identify potential network issues and flag cyber threats. 

4. Personalised customer experience 

One of the best uses of AI in business today is the personalisation of customer experiences and experiences. 

For example, by analysing data in a customer relationship management system, AI can understand a customer’s buying behaviour and preferences. This allows businesses to prepare more targeted messaging to customers and offer more personalised product recommendations. 

Why Should Business Leaders Undergo AI Training? 

Business leaders must equip themselves with the latest technological knowledge to steer their business towards a prosperous future. The challenge?  Equipping themselves to navigate this AI-powered future.  Thankfully, a majority of leaders recognise this, as evidenced by a 2023 Work Trend Report by Microsoft which found they feel the need for new skills to keep pace. 

Let’s take a look at how AI can empower business leaders: 

1. AI enhances your strategic vision 

AI training provides leaders with the knowledge and skills to maximise this technology’s potential. You’ll be able to make informed decisions about AI adoption, integration, and investment opportunities, giving your organisation a distinct competitive advantage.  
 
For instance, once you understand AI concepts and applications, you can identify new market segments that were previously unseen or predict customer behavior with greater accuracy, allowing you to develop targeted marketing campaigns. 

2. AI training helps you enhance your business value 

With AI training, you gain the foresight to identify areas within your organisation where AI can improve your operations. When you understand both the capabilities and limitations of AI, you can strategically allocate resources, ensuring your AI-initiatives are laser-focused on your business’s priorities. This translates to enhanced efficiency and productivity, as AI-driven insights can lead to more informed decisions, streamlined processes, and optimised resource allocation. 

3. AI fosters innovation and agility in problem-solving 

AI training empowers business leaders with the tools to foster an innovative mindset and agility in problem-solving. By understanding AI’s ability to analyse data and trends, leaders can anticipate market changes and come up with creative solutions.  

This proactive approach can result in the development of new products and services, opening up additional revenue streams and keeping the business ahead of the curve. 

4. AI training helps with risk management 

Let’s say your company processes a large number of online transactions daily. To identify fraudulent activity, you normally have to manually review and flag suspicious patterns. But with AI training, you can harness the power of machine learning for fraud detection. 

AI models can identify anomalies in real-time, such as unusual spending patterns, billing address inconsistencies, or a sudden spike in online activity from an unusual location by analysing vast amounts of transaction data. Once you gain this knowledge from AI training, you can implement AI-powered fraud detection systems that can automatically flag suspicious transactions for further investigation. This can save your company from significant financial losses and reputational damage. 

5. AI-savvy leaders drive data-driven decisions 

Leaders who are knowledgeable in AI can encourage the use of advanced data analytics in their organisation to drive decision-making processes across all departments. This shift towards data-centric strategies ensures decisions are based on concrete evidence rather than intuition. As a result, an organisation can produce more accurate and effective outcomes, giving them a distinct competitive advantage in today’s data-driven world. 

Additionally, a data-driven culture fosters increased transparency within the organisation. By basing decisions on clear, measurable data, leaders can provide stakeholders with a better understanding of the rationale behind their choices. This transparency fosters accountability across all levels, as data serves as a common ground for measuring progress and performance. 

How Can Business Leaders Elevate Their AI Knowledge? 

To reap the full potential of AI, you must take initiative and actively champion its adoption in your organisation. Here are some best practices that you can leverage: 

- Encourage knowledge sharing: Foster a learning environment within your organisation by encouraging open discussions about AI and empowering team members to share their knowledge and insights. This collaborative approach benefits both the leader and the organisation. 

- Get expert guidance: Consider consulting with AI specialists or advisors who can tailor their insights to your specific industry and business goals. This way, you gain a better understanding of how AI can impact your organisation. 

- Explore real-world applications: Research successful case studies of AI implementation in your industry. Consider pilot programs to test the feasibility and effectiveness of AI for specific tasks within your company. 

Aside from these, it’s also essential to embrace continuous learning through industry conferences and workshops that focus on AI applications and trends. You can also enrol in specialised AI courses, such as Nexacu’s AI for Management program. This 1 day course provides an overview of AI in a business context, focusing on AI training for leaders and AI usage in business operations. This will help you apply AI concepts and applications into your business to maximise productivity and efficiency.

Ready to see how AI can transform your organisation? Enrol with us on the course today.