Productivity with AI: Myth or revolution in progress?
Artificial intelligence has captured the imagination of businesses, governments, and developers alike. From smart assistants to automation platforms, the promises are ambitious: cost reduction, increased efficiency, faster decision-making, and freeing up human talent for higher-value tasks.
In this article, we explore the evidence, challenges, and true impact of artificial intelligence on organizational productivity, especially in SMEs.
What do we mean by productivity with AI?
Talking about productivity with AI means referring to an organization's ability to achieve more results with fewer human resources, time, or money, thanks to intelligent automation and advanced data analysis. This productivity can manifest itself in multiple ways:
Reduction of repetitive manual tasks.
Automatic generation of reports and analyses.
Improved decision-making through business intelligence.
Automatic customer responses via chatbots.
According to a McKinsey report (2023), AI has the potential to deliver up to a 40% increase in productivity in specific areas such as operations, finance, customer service, and software development.
Real-world examples of AI improving productivity
Process automation (RPA): Companies that use RPA (robotic process automation) for administrative tasks report up to a 70% reduction in data processing time (Source: Deloitte).
Programming assistants: Tools such as GitHub Copilot allow developers to write code up to 55% faster, according to internal studies by GitHub (2023).
Customer service: The use of AI in chatbots has reduced the human workload in support centers by 30%, according to Zendesk.
Finance and accounting: Platforms such as SAP Business One allow for the automation of reconciliations, reports, and forecasts, reducing errors and accounting closing times.
Challenges that prevent the promised productivity from being achieved
Despite advances, not everything is immediately efficient. Many organizations face obstacles such as:
Learning curve and resistance to change: Adopting AI requires a new mindset, training, and a willingness to change internal processes.
Inflated expectations: Some companies expect automatic results without understanding that AI needs training, adjustments, and constant supervision.
Lack of structured data: AI depends on quality data. In many SMEs, information is still scattered or unstandardized.
Initial costs and technical complexity: Implementing intelligent solutions may require investment in infrastructure and specialized talent.
How to truly measure productivity with AI
To ensure that AI does not remain a myth, companies must establish clear indicators. Some examples include:
Reduction in time per task (before and after implementing AI).
Number of automated tasks.
Increase in customer response speed.
Percentage reduction in errors.
ROI (return on investment) associated with the AI solution.
According to PwC, organizations that define KPIs before implementing AI are 65% more likely to report tangible improvements in productivity.
Recommendations for SMEs seeking to be more productive with AI
Start with repetitive processes: Identify time-consuming administrative tasks that can be automated.
Integrate AI with reliable platforms: Tools such as SAP Business One already include AI modules for analysis and prediction.
Train your team: Successful adoption depends on correct use by people.
Work with experts: Not all companies need to build their own AI; working with a technology partner can accelerate results.
Productivity with AI is not a myth, but it is not a magic solution either. It is a real opportunity that requires strategy, discipline, and long-term vision. For SMEs, it can represent the possibility of competing with larger companies, optimizing their resources, and offering better experiences to their customers.
At T&M Consulting, we help SMEs implement intelligent solutions such as SAP Business One to transform their operational and financial management with the power of automation and analytics.
Write to us at contact@tmconsulting.mx or visit our website tmconsulting.mx
