[Column] Dumisani Moyo: Demystifying Artificial Intelligence for business

Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and the Internet of Things are transforming our personal and professional lives. These tech-driven, disruptive innovations are still in their early stages of development, but hold the potential to fundamentally reshape business, society and the global economy.

AI is becoming increasingly pervasive. AI-powered innovations are seamlessly integrating into everyday products and services, from e-commerce and virtual assistants such as Siri to AI-driven healthcare and financial solutions, it’s becoming impossible to go through a day without interacting with some form of AI.

In business, AI offers significant benefits to organisations of all sizes, both in the private and public sectors. Many large companies already leverage the power of AI to drive business value, both internally and for their customers. One study predicts that AI could add up to $15.7-trillion to the global economy by 2030, more than the economic output of China and India combined.

AI is enhancing efficiency and fostering innovation across industries, from automating routine tasks to enabling complex data analysis and providing predictive insights, while also improving decision-making and optimising business operations. Experts believe AI could add $1.5-trillion to Africa’s economy if the continent can capture even 10% of the global AI market by 2030.

Sectors like healthcare, agriculture, retail, and financial services can benefit significantly from AI specifically and digital technologies in general. In healthcare, innovations can address challenges like accessibility and resource management. In agriculture, tackle issues like climate change and food insecurity by improving crop yields and sustainability. In retail and e-commerce, drive hyper-personalisation and boost customer experiences. In financial services, promote financial inclusion, access and financial literacy, particularly for Africa’s unbanked population.

To understand AI’s potential impact, it’s important to differentiate between Business AI and the more mainstream application of Generative AI.

Understanding Business AI

For many people, the mention of AI often brings ChatGPT to mind, a Generative AI tool that launched in 2022 and quickly became one of the most rapidly adopted new technologies in history. However, Business AI encompasses much more than just Generative AI, which refers to AI systems designed to create and generate content.

Business AI is a more specialised application of AI that focuses on solving specific business challenges, such as optimising processes, enhancing customer experiences, and improving decision-making.

Generative AI uses Large Language Models (LLMs) trained on vast amounts of data to generate creative outputs based on patterns it has learned. In contrast, Business AI draws mostly relies on structured data and real-time inputs from internal and external business systems to deliver business value, for example by improving efficiency.

All business functions generate data – from HR and supply chains to CRM and ERP applications – that can be processed by AI-powered tools to reveal new insights or automate business processes. Organisations also draw on external, publicly available data, for example market data and social media analytics, to better understand their operating environment. When integrated to Business AI applications, the combination of internal business data and external public data provides a more holistic view of a company’s operations, enabling better, more informed and context-based decision-making.

The application of AI in Business

Broadly speaking, AI can deliver value for companies in three categories, namely: (1) automating business processes; (2) gaining valuable insights through the analysis of data; and (3) enhancing how businesses engage with both customers and employees.

In practice, the use of AI unlocks value for example through AI-driven inventory management that reduces wastage and boosts profitability, or through data-driven insights that enhance customer engagement and enables hyper-personalisation.

AI has the potential to transform a wide range of sectors, and the benefits span across multiple industries. In agriculture, emerging farmers leverage AI-powered tools to analyse soil conditions, weather patterns, and pest control, leading to higher crop yields. In supply chain management, AI helps optimise operations by predicting demand, efficiently managing logistics, and reducing costs. In retail, particularly in South Africa’s expanding e-commerce marketplace, AI applications like dynamic pricing and customer behaviour analysis enable businesses to effectively respond to rapidly changing market conditions.

The benefits of AI are not limited to enterprises. SMEs can leverage a growing range of AI use cases to unlock competitive advantages and power their growth and innovation. As AI continues to evolve, it’s evident that it has become a vital tool for sustainable growth and a powerful catalyst for competitive advantage in a fast-evolving digital marketplace.

Building a Strong Foundation for Effective AI Adoption

Companies seeking to unlock the benefits of AI and other emerging technologies must develop a deep understanding of the complexities and potential pitfalls of adding them to their technology stack.

Adopting technology should be focused on maximising business value while minimising complexity. Here, a solid data foundation and a single source of truth for operational data are essential starting points. This could involve implementing cloud-based ERP systems to manage transactional and operational data, CRM to track interactions with current and potential customers, and supply chain management systems to manage the flow of goods and services from suppliers to end customers. By ensuring accurate, real-time information, these systems provide AI tools with reliable data, establishing a single-source-of-truth across the business and creating a strong foundation for future AI-powered innovation.

Businesses should prioritise areas where AI can provide the most value, such as reducing operational costs, increasing revenue, or improving efficiency. Focusing on high-impact areas like automating repetitive tasks or leveraging AI-driven analytics for customer insights can deliver immediate benefits. This targeted approach enables businesses to achieve quick wins and build momentum for broader AI initiatives.

Throughout it all, it’s essential to drive adoption with sound integration and comprehensive change management efforts. By experimenting with simple automation before scaling to more complex AI applications, businesses can innovate without overwhelming complexity, ensuring long-term success and continuous improvement.

The time for AI in business is now

The rise of AI is comparable to the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century, transforming and disrupting businesses across industries. With its ability to streamline operations and fuel innovation, AI is a powerful tool for business success. As the technology continues to advance and mature, it will unlock even more opportunities, particularly through automation and integration with other emerging technologies.

The key question is: Are businesses ready to embrace AI-powered solutions and challenge the status quo? The stakes are high—those that do will gain a competitive advantage in the rapidly evolving marketplace, while those that don’t risk being left behind.

In today’s dynamic world, business success hinges on innovation, and AI is leading that transformation.

Dumisani Moyo is the Marketing Director at SAP Africa