Companies of all sizes are betting on artificial intelligence (AI) to transform their internal and external processes. According to a 2024 study by McKinsey, 65% of companies are regularly using AI in at least one business function. The percentage reveals a significant increase compared to the previous year, when 40% of organizations had adopted the tool.
The survey also revealed that 50% of companies that adopted artificial intelligence noticed an increase in productivity. Businessman Frederico Stockchneider, Technology Director at InfoWorker, states that AI is reshaping management and corporate routines. ‘It’s a one-way process. Companies that don’t adapt to the new tools will lose competitiveness to their competitors, because what’s at stake is the agility in resolving demands and cost reduction,’ he comments.
Stockchneider explains that there are several AI solutions on the market, and choosing the best tool depends on variables such as the company’s profile, area of operation, volume of available data, purpose, among others. He cites, for example, Microsoft’s tools, which it offers to its clients. ‘Demands change according to each organization’s needs,’ he points out.
SMEs
Whether in a small business or a multinational, integrating AI into corporate routines is more than a trend: it’s a necessity. Stockchneider emphasizes that the AI revolution is not limited to large corporations. Affordable and flexible solutions allow small and medium-sized enterprises to also adopt the technology. ‘Whether in customer service with intelligent chatbots or inventory management, AI is helping level the playing field,’ he highlights.
Among Microsoft’s most sought-after products, according to him, are Power BI – which uses AI to provide comprehensive data analysis, allowing companies to visualize data intuitively to guide strategic decisions – and Azure Machine Learning, a machine learning platform that enables building, training, and deploying AI models at scale. ‘Azure is recommended for organizations that want to leverage the power of machine learning to solve complex problems,’ he clarifies.
According to him, artificial intelligence has been a tool used for several years but has recently gained popularity thanks mainly to solutions like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, which help automate tasks, provide insights, and improve collaboration among teams. ‘These are tools recommended for automating repetitive tasks, analyzing large volumes of data, and providing valuable insights that aid decision-making,’ he states.
ADDED VALUE
Another major advantage, Stockchneider points out, is that artificial intelligence helps improve operational efficiency by optimizing processes and reducing human errors. The McKinsey research indicated that AI is being more commonly adopted in functions where it can add value, such as marketing, sales, and product and service development.
However, despite the advances, implementing artificial intelligence is not without challenges. The need for employee training, integration with existing systems, and issues related to ethics and privacy are some of the points that require attention. ‘More than technology, it’s essential for companies to invest in education and creating an organizational culture adapted to this new moment,’ he assesses.
InfoWorker’s Technology Director mentions that, in fact, this is a niche where AI has been widely used. Copilot, for example, is a tool that helps employees work smarter and more collaboratively, allowing them to focus on higher-value activities.
