By 2021, artificial intelligence will more than double the rate of innovation at organisations (x2.2 times) and employee productivity (x2.3 times) in India, according to the country’s business leaders. The study by Microsoft and IDC Asia/Pacific – ‘Future Ready Business: Assessing Asia Pacific’s Growth Potential Through AI – surveyed 200 business leaders and 202 workers in India.
The findings were released by Rohini Srivathsa, National Technology Officer, Microsoft India and Ranganath Sadasiva, Director, Enterprise, IDC, in the presence of Girish Nayak, Chief – Service, Operations & Technology, ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company.
The survey, conducted with 1,560 business decision makers in mid and large-sized organizations across 15 economies in the region, highlights that while 77 per cent of business leaders polled agreed that AI is instrumental for their organisation’s competitiveness, only one-third of organisations in India have embarked on their AI journeys. Those companies that have adopted AI expect it to increase their competitiveness by 2.3 times in 2021.
“Today, every company is a software company, and increasingly, every interaction is digital. To be successful in this new world, organisations need to be a fast adopter of best-in-class technology; and in addition to that, they need to build their own unique digital capabilities. Economies and businesses that have yet to embark on their AI journey run a real risk of missing out on the competitive benefits that are enjoyed by leaders. Businesses must now embrace a new culture, where innovation and continuous learning are core components of the organizational culture. It sets the stage for agility, adaptability and growth,” said Srivathsa.
Last year, organisations that have adopted AI saw tangible improvements in those areas in the range of 8 per cent to 22 per cent. They forecast further improvements of at least 2.1 times in the three-year horizon, with the biggest jump expected in higher margins, and higher competitiveness.
Showcasing a new solution that deploys AI to process vehicle insurance claims and renew policies more efficiently, Nayak added, “We recognised the potential of AI in providing high quality car damage evaluation services. With data being generated at an exponential level, this technology will help us derive insights to inspect and process claims with utmost efficiency. Using Microsoft’s AI expertise is helping us bring about this transformation, allowing us to meet customer demands quicker without compromising on service excellence.”
The study evaluated six dimensions critical to ensuring AI journey. According to the findings, India needs to build upon its investment, data, and strategy in order to accelerate its AI journey. The study also underlines the need for cultural changes and skilling and reskilling workforces to make AI work for the country.
“To succeed in the AI race, India needs to substantially improve its readiness. Leaders should make AI a core part of their strategy and develop a learning agility culture. Investment in this transformative technology has to be continuous for the long-term success. There is an urgent need for talents and tools to develop, deploy and monitor AI models, along with the availability of a robust data estate with the adequate governance,” said Ranganath Sadasiva, Director, Enterprise, IDC.
