My view is arguably not that exciting. It is that used properly AI will likely make us more efficient. And let’s face it, in the data centre sector, where we are facing an ongoing increasing demand for capacity alongside a well-documented shortage of skilled people, this is vital if we are to continue to support the continuing digital transformation the world is demanding.
At BCS our short-term strategy is to look to utilise AI to automate project administration and streamline our operations, which in turn can release as much as 50% of the time for our senior people to focus towards the development and training of the next generation of digital infrastructure professionals. The objective is to help mitigate the skills gap and this will run in parallel with our successful apprenticeship and graduate programme, as well as our upskilling and reskilling programmes.
Our aim is for AI to automate repetitive and time-consuming tasks such as data entry, meeting minutes and email sorting. This not only speeds up these processes but also reduces the likelihood of human error, leading to more accurate outcomes.
For AI to be beneficial there needs to be certainty around the clarity and relevance of data. In simple terms this means that the data or information needs to be input by a knowledgeable senior person who has more to offer than just the facts – but also insight and experience. Since BCS started eight years ago we have accrued a wealth of data and I believe, using AI, we can assist decision making with data driven insight and use it to forecast outcomes and even future trends. However, we will still need skilled senior consultants who understand the project and the wider industry to analyse the information and that needs experience.
We are also speaking to our University partners about how they are going to be introducing the concept of AI into their courses to incorporate them into all the modules and ensure that graduates have at least a basic understanding of what is coming. Learning about AI and its application is now an important part of education, not just for our sector.
We are also working closely with our clients, sharing updates and insights. It is clear that we are all heading in the same direction, but no-one really knows what the end point is. There is however universal agreement that AI has a role to play in enterprise transformation.
In conclusion, our focus for AI is to help drive improvements toward delivery, safety, efficiency and most importantly the wellbeing of our people. Will it create a better service for our clients? Will it foster a better working environment for our people? Will it help to alleviate the skills shortage and enable us to deliver the digital infrastructure the world needs as it continues to develop? The answer is yes, I believe it will, and I think that is exciting.
By Chris Coward, Director of Project Management, BCS