PROCURE-TO-PAY
The main barriers to successful adoption When asked about what he believes the main barriers to successful AI / Automation adoption are , Doyle says : “ Likely , it will be many of the same spectres that have haunted digital transformation strategies throughout the decades : poor communication between siloed departments , concerns about costs and complexity , lack of knowledge from the leadership and the reluctance to change ingrained habits , among others .
“ Talent-related and cultural issues pose one of the largest challenges for organisations looking to adopt new technologies .”
Putting his scientific thinking to the issue at hand , he says : “ To be fair , some of these fears are well founded . Historical patterns can ‘ drift ’ from reality , so the models need testing and maintenance . New skills are required for this – even if it is just to understand what to watch out for .
“ Finally , we need to think of augmentation as well as automation . We often talk about the latter when reducing the headcount amongst your colleagues is an appealing prospect to only a very small number of colleagues . We need to focus instead on how AI can augment the procurement function , giving them the ‘ superpowers ’ to delight their business customers . This simple shifting of perspective will move the mood-music from trepidation to enthusiasm .”
In summary , Doyle says introducing AI will quickly make your procurement processes more efficient , powerful and easier , and that ensuring internal and external stakeholders are brought along – and that human expertise remains central to the process – can alleviate some of these challenges . “ Also , don ’ t be afraid to start small ,” he says . “ You don ’ t need to overhaul everything all at once to immediately start gaining significant advantages from using AI in your supply chain . Adopting specific AI tools to supplement different parts of the procurement process can be an effective approach .”
How AI and Automation can drive greater productivity and sustainability Doyle believes that AI will play an important role in driving greater productivity and sustainability . “ One immediate advantage ,” he says , “ is that using AI can ‘ supercharge ’ and speed-up the procurement process . AI can identify patterns , dramatically cut
86 February 2023