How SAP uses the benefits of AI
The impact of AI on the job market is a topic of much discussion. While some predict that AI will replace human workers in many jobs, others believe that AI will create new opportunities and change the nature of work. Sabine Bendiek, head of HR at SAP, falls into the latter camp, seeing AI as a tool that can support employees in their work, as she tells the dpa (Deutsche Presse-Agentur). According to Bendiek, who will leave SAP by the end of the year 2023, artificial intelligence will have enormous effects on the future of work. Bendiek stated that digital technologies are already transforming jobs, and AI is an accelerator of this change.
AI enables employees to work on more creative tasks
One area where AI is already having a significant impact is in the automation of business processes. SAP is one of the companies that are using AI to automate processes such as procurement, supply chain management and financial reporting. Using chatbots can help companies save costs and improve efficiency. AI has the potential to make things much simpler, for example, by taking over extremely repetitive tasks so that employees can focus on tasks that require creativity and critical thinking.
How SAP uses AI
SAP uses AI to automate some of its business processes and to improve decision-making. Bendiek also mentioned that SAP is exploring new AI applications such as the ChatGPT AI text robot from OpenAI and Aleph Alpha, a Heidelberg-based AI start-up. For example, the company uses a chatbot in human resources that handled around 42,000 employee queries last year, including questions about benefits and vacation. The company is also looking at different AI use cases and evaluating them for their potential for collaboration. Bendiek also emphasises that many new jobs will be created using AI, as skills and requirements for employees shift. However, this also requires an adjustment of training and further education to equip employees with the necessary skills and competences.
AI on the job market – challenges, but also chances
Meanwhile, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, has purchased high-quality computer chips and has hired AI experts to develop his own AI chatbot to compete with the successful ChatGPT. Musk’s plans for AI are not clear, but it is believed that he wants to use AI for automated content creation, searching or advertising. His plans come despite the concerns raised by some about the impact of AI on society and the workforce. Developments in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) have gained enormous momentum in recent years and are expected to have a profound impact on the way we work, live and organise ourselves as a society. The potential effects of AI on the job market are yet to be fully understood.
In the case of SAP, AI brings a lot of benefits in the field of human resources. And also in procurement, chatbots can facilitate the daily tasks of employees, helping them to work more efficiently. Another area where AI is making its presence felt is in customer service. Chatbots are becoming increasingly sophisticated and can handle a wide range of customer queries, freeing up human customer service agents to deal with more complex issues.
But when using AI, we also have to ask important ethical questions. One concern is the potential for AI to perpetuate and even
amplify existing biases and inequalities. For example, AI algorithms used in recruitment or promotion decisions may inadvertently discriminate against certain groups of people. It is therefore essential that AI systems are designed with ethical considerations in mind and that they are regularly audited to ensure that they are not perpetuating biases.
Despite these concerns, the potential benefits of AI are significant – especially in the procurement area. While concerns about the impact of AI on jobs and society are valid, there is also significant potential for AI to create new opportunities and support human workers in their jobs. However, to realise these benefits, it is essential that AI is developed and used responsibly. By doing so, we can ensure that AI is used to its full potential, while minimising the risks and challenges that come with this transformative technology.
Our chatbot solution for procurement
SapienecS2P is proud to present SAP and other potential clients and partners solutions for chatbots in procurement, allowing companies to benefit from the advantages of artificial intelligence. Our solutions include Roshi and Satori, the conversational AI assistants for SAP Ariba that can be used with Microsoft Teams and MS Azure, saving companies a lot of working time. The AI assistants take care of repetitive tasks, while employees can focus on more fulfilling, creative and complex work. Besides that, we are continuously working on creating new solutions using chatbots – to make procurement better than ever before.