IT Solutions
Depend on us to get your organisation to the next level.
Sectors
BCN have a heritage of delivering outcomes through our cloud-first services and currently support over 1200 customers across specialist sectors.
About Us
Your tech partner
By Fraser Dear, Head of AI and Data Innovation. Posted 27th November 2024
The pressure of the business environment is constantly increasing, where budget constraints and rising operational costs squeeze profit margins, integrating AI into workplace operations is critical for success. With the recent budget shifts announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, including a hike in National Insurance contributions to 15% by April 2025 and the lowering of the salary threshold from £9,100 to £5,000, payroll costs are set to soar. This makes AI-driven efficiencies more crucial than ever to balance the books.
As the Head of AI and Data Innovation at BCN, I’ve seen firsthand the impact of integrating AI technology into the workplace is essential. As 90% of employees report that it saves them time on tasks, AI is improving profit margins and increasing employee satisfaction. By streamlining processes, AI not only boosts efficiency but also enhances employee satisfaction, creating a win-win for businesses. By automating tedious tasks, it frees up human talent to focus on what they do best.
While many businesses rely on Microsoft Excel and other tools for flexibility, running critical processes via spreadsheets can be risky, slow, and frustrating. With the Power Platform, organisations can now craft custom secure applications tailored to their specific needs, boosting efficiency and reducing risk while seamlessly incorporating AI into existing workflows, processes and tools.
Every corner of an organisation stands to benefit from AI integration. Power Platform and AI could make big impacts for your business operations. Here’s how different departments can harness its power:
Automate financial reporting, compliance checks, and anomaly detection, minimising errors and enhancing decision-making ability. For instance, 39% of finance teams are already utilising AI to detect and report inconsistencies in extensive datasets, including internal claims, expenses, and invoices, reducing errors and saving time. By leveraging AI, financial departments can monitor transactions in real time, instantly flagging irregularities. This proactive approach ensures greater accuracy, improved security, and more efficient financial operations.
Simplify case request handling with AI to ensure accuracy and consistency, easing the administrative load on HR staff. AI can also help in talent acquisition by screening resumes and identifying the best candidates according to predefined criteria, thereby speeding up the recruitment process and ensuring a better fit for the organisation.
Leverage chatbots and virtual assistants to deliver instant, round-the-clock customer support, significantly improving satisfaction and loyalty. By reducing up to 70% of inquiries across calls, chats, and emails, virtual assistants free up human agents to address more complex issues. This seamless integration boosts efficiency while ensuring faster response times and a superior customer experience.
Use automated ticketing systems to improve response times and service quality, helping IT teams resolve complex issues efficiently. AI can predict potential IT system failures before they occur, allowing for proactive maintenance and reducing downtime, which is critical for maintaining continuous business operations.
Last year, AI usage in marketing grew by over 250%, underscoring its significant impact on this department. AI enables predictive analytics to identify trends and customer preferences, driving targeted campaigns and personalised experiences. It also streamlines content creation, generating relevant, high-quality copy. By analysing data and producing content, AI helps marketers craft more effective, tailored strategies that resonate with their audiences.
Streamline RFP and tender responses with AI-powered automation tools that extract data directly from business documents, reducing data handling time by up to 70%. This efficiency allows sales teams to focus on strategic engagement and close deals faster. Additionally, AI-driven analytics empower sales teams to identify high-potential leads and tailor their strategies using predictive insights, boosting conversion rates and optimising resource allocation.
Introduce automation and AI to streamline goods tracking, compliance documents, and quality control, speeding up processes and reducing human error. AI can optimise inventory management by predicting demand and ensuring that stock levels are maintained at optimal levels, thus reducing costs and improving efficiency.
BCN’s expertise in AI and the Power Platform, including Power Automate and AI Builder, means we can help your organisation develop custom applications that capitalise on these opportunities, delivering significant efficiency gains and business value.
Testimonial
Investing in Microsoft Power Apps, Power Automate, and AI Builder promises an impressive ROI of up to 206% in the first year alone. By automating tasks and streamlining processes, businesses can realise substantial cost savings and productivity boosts. Here’s how these tools contribute to a strong ROI:
Automation reduces the need for manual administrative labour, cutting operational expenses by up to 50%. This allows businesses to reallocate resources to more strategic areas, fostering innovation and growth.
Free employees from repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on strategic initiatives and speed up project timelines. By automating mundane activities, employees can get up to 50% of their time back and dedicate more time to creative and value-added tasks, enhancing overall productivity.
Reduce errors and enhance accuracy with automation and AI-driven insights, delivering precise data and more informed decision-making while preventing costly mistakes. AI can improve data accuracy by up to 80%, as automated systems consistently produce reliable and error-free outputs. This reduces the risk of human error, elevates work quality, and ensures greater efficiency across operations.
Efficiently scale operations with APIs and automated workflows, growing without proportionally increasing costs or resources. AI and automation enable businesses to handle increased workloads seamlessly, supporting expansion and market entry strategies.
With 85% of office workers believing AI will enhance their roles, empowering employees with meaningful work can boost job satisfaction, reduce turnover, and lower hiring and training costs. By automating repetitive tasks, employees can focus on more fulfilling and impactful work, leading to higher motivation, increased productivity, and a more stable workforce.
Additionally, AI can also proactively identify potential issues before they arise. For example, a manufacturing company could use Power Automate to monitor equipment health in real-time, enabling rapid intervention to minimise downtime and reduce maintenance costs. Similarly, by utilising AI Builder to analyse customer feedback, a retail business can refine its marketing strategies, boosting sales and fostering customer loyalty.
AI isn’t just about efficiency—it’s a magnet for talent. Today’s professionals seek tech-driven workplaces where they can engage in innovative, meaningful work. By investing in AI, companies can create environments that attract top talent, ensuring they hire and retain the brightest minds.
Surveys show that companies embracing AI and advanced technologies are viewed as more attractive employers. For businesses across the globe, this investment is delivering ROI and strengthening the employer brand, making it easier to attract and keep top talent.
While the benefits of AI are clear, implementing it comes with its own set of challenges that organisations must navigate to ensure success.
Ensuring that AI systems comply with data privacy regulations and maintain the security of sensitive information is key. Organisations must establish robust data governance frameworks and implement advanced security measures to protect against breaches and misuse.
Introducing AI requires a cultural shift within the organisation. Employees must be trained and prepared for new workflows, and there must be clear communication about the benefits and changes AI will bring. Effective change management strategies are essential to ease the transition and ensure widespread adoption.
AI systems need to be seamlessly integrated with existing IT infrastructure. This often requires significant planning and collaboration between different departments to ensure compatibility and smooth operation.
AI systems are not a set-it-and-forget-it solution. Continuous monitoring and regular updates are necessary to maintain performance and adapt to evolving business needs. Organisations must establish processes for ongoing evaluation and refinement of AI solutions.
As AI continues to evolve, its integration into applications, processes and users’ day to day activities is set to revolutionise how businesses operate, driving unprecedented efficiencies and innovation. I have witnessed companies that have invested in AI are receiving significant returns on investment through cost reductions, time savings, and improved accuracy.
AI-driven insights enable better decision-making, enhancing overall productivity and competitiveness. As AI technology advances, I’m sure its impact on businesses will only intensify, making it an indispensable tool for those looking to thrive in an increasingly complex, competitive and dynamic market. The counterbalance to the leaps forward is ensuring that AI is implemented in a way that is secure, ethical, accessible, fair and transparent. These are not necessarily at the forefront of cost focussed approach however there is no doubt…. AI is here to stay, and the rate of change means businesses who are not engaging in this technology, will soon find others outpacing them in the market.
At BCN, we understand the power of AI and the Microsoft Power Platform in driving meaningful business transformation. As an AI expert, I can confidently say that integrating these tools can unlock substantial efficiency gains while reducing costs. With the Power Platform already included in many business licenses, it offers a cost-effective and accessible entry point for organizations to begin leveraging AI and automation to boost productivity.
As a Microsoft Partner holding all 6 partner designations BCN is uniquely positioned to help you unlock the full potential of your Microsoft investment. If you’re ready to explore the transformative possibilities of the Power Platform for your organisation, contact us today. We can guide you through a comprehensive review and chart a course for leveraging AI to achieve lasting business success
Get in touch with our experts
