Practical steps and expert insights to integrate AI into your business

Thinking about AI? Let's compare two popular tools and review when and how to integrate them into your business.

Businesses typically innovate to increase revenue, reduce costs and mitigate risks. With the rise of AI, companies now have an even greater opportunity to achieve these goals. Because not only can the tool swiftly enforce improved processes, it can help organizations reach unprecedented levels of accuracy, efficiency and ultimately success.

Let’s explore how to integrate AI into your operations and workflow, and the best applications for your needs. We’ll dive into a comparison between two popular AI applications - ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot; share insights on how to pick the right AI projects; and feature real-life examples of businesses that have successfully implemented AI and the outcomes achieved.

A comparison of ChatGPT and Copilot
Understanding the differences between ChatGPT and Copilot is the key to deciding on how to use each tool and for what purpose. Let’s explore some of their features:

In terms of security, Microsoft Copilot is generally more secure by default because it operates entirely within Microsoft's infrastructure, thus benefiting from its strong security and compliance standards. ChatGPT can be secure in customized versions and offer better control over data privacy, but the free version includes more risk since the data can be accessed globally by anyone. 

Overall, from a user standpoint, Copilot is easier to use because it is built directly into familiar tools like Word, Excel, and Teams that businesses already use- they don’t need to switch platforms or learn a new interface. ChatGPT, on the other hand, is easier for general-purpose tasks. It’s conversational, and offers natural, human-like interactions and a broader range of applications.

Deciding how and when to use each tool
Clearly think about where your business should spend its time and money in terms of AI. For example, businesses should use Microsoft Copilot for automating tasks and enhancing productivity within the familiar Microsoft Office suite, where it offers strong data privacy and seamless integration. It's ideal for companies that prioritize workflow efficiency and security in tools they are already familiar with like Word, Excel, and Teams. ChatGPT is better for versatile tasks like customer service, content creation, and personalized communication, because it offers more flexibility and customization.

Establishing a clear AI policy is essential to ensure proper use, data security, and maximum benefit from both tools.

How to pick the right AI projects and when does it make sense for your business?
Businesses should prioritize projects based on impact versus effort. Select ones with high potential ROI and low implementation difficulty - such as off-the-shelf solutions that already exist. For complex, high-impact needs, consider custom AI development to tailor solutions for specific workflows.

Consider the following questions when deciding on whether AI can be integrated into your business:
1) Does the problem you’re trying to solve have a clear-cut answer that can be easily answered by AI?
2) Is the task time-consuming i.e. does something need to be summarized, automated, or analyzed?
3) Does the task include complex patterns that AI can analyze quickly?
4) Is the task repetitive?
5) Do you have enough data to automate this task?
6) Is there an off-the-shelf solution or should we consider a customizable one?
7) Who would the stakeholders be?
8) Are there obstacles to implementing AI?
9) What’s the potential ROI?

All in all, think about how much time you’re spending on a certain task and how much human expertise it takes. If it’s easy to train a person on the task, it will be just as easy to train a computer and will result in high ROI.

Case study on how an off-the-shelf AI solution helped:
The problem: Employees at a health center had to manually transcribe hundreds of thousands of patient phone calls every month.
Goal: Go from a 5% automation rate to a 30% automation rate without losing any content.
Results: Delivering 60% automation. Faster and more accurate than a human. Freed up 4-5 people from manual work.

Case study on how a customized AI solution helped:
The problem: A document processing software company needed to correctly process, and route submitted claims.
The goal: Automate 90% of forms with only 5% error.
Result: Automated and correctly routed 96% of forms without human intervention. 

As you consider integrating AI into your business, remember that the right tools can be the difference between staying competitive and falling behind. Start by identifying processes where AI can help automate tasks, improve efficiency, or enhance the customer experience, and evaluate the expected business impact against the resources required. Of course, effective AI governance is crucial as is ensuring alignment between AI initiatives and business goals. 

Now is the time to explore how AI can transform your business. We too recognize its power and have seen the benefits firsthand. We can help you choose the right solution, guide you through the integration process, and ensure your organization achieves the best results. Contact us for a thorough assessment.