Expectations are high, as long as AI delivers real business value
What do IT decision makers really think about AI? Are they buying the hype? Are they laying some groundwork for artificial intelligence implementations?
Random interviews with several IT managers across a variety of industries on The Hub show floor at Inforum 2018 reveal what one might expect — a variety of opinions on AI. But most all believe it could be big, possibly very big.
Another widely held belief is that tapping into the capability of AI to optimize human potential will take some trial and error. To some extent, this reflects the thinking of sports superstar Venus Williams, who told a packed General Session at Inforum, “Failure is a huge part of knowing your pushing yourself hard enough.”
But all agreed on one thing: IT must acknowledge AI in some way, and at least begin to closely and seriously examine how it might fit into their organizations. After all, as Williams said, “It’s not where you start, but where you finish.”
One pioneering early user of AI is Headwaters Inc., a supplier and distributor of construction materials comprising five distribution companies across the US. Matt Hendrickson, IT director and speaker at Inforum, said his firm decided to partner with Infor in its journey to the cloud, designed to relieve its tiny technical staff from operational burdens.
Early in this engagement, Hendrickson said he tapped the potential of Infor Coleman, the AI platform, to drive greater efficiencies and effectiveness by predicting possible stock-outs and back order problems. He noted that Coleman could tap into a range of data sources, including real-time and historical weather data, to better estimate when customers would require Headwaters’ products when demand is affected by various weather events. For Headwaters, it’s a great AI beginning.
Here are other takes on AI from random show floor interviews.
And, as always, contact ICCG to help provide you with insight and information. Schedule a complimentary consultation to review your questions.