- Petra Seals, Managing Principal
AI is Redefining Process Optimization: A Journey of Progress Over Perfection
I am a perfectionist, I admit it. As a perfectionist, it is hard to create solutions and drive progress when we know there is room to make it better. However, after years of consulting, I have learned that continuous improvement, rather than flawless execution, is the key to success. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is making the process of creating small changes that drive positive results even easier. Let’s explore how AI is revolutionizing process optimization.
Embracing AI in Business Process Management (BPM)
The entrance of AI into the traditional business process optimization space has accelerated the advancements and improvements that are possible. Traditional BPM relied on rigid rules and human intervention, often leading to inefficiencies. Enter AI, with its ability to learn from data, predict trends, and make real-time adjustments. Businesses started to see the potential for smarter, faster decisions, and the acceleration of optimization began.
Learning and Adapting: AI-Driven Insights
Imagine having all of the information you would ever need to make the best decision possible. This means not only data, but trends, patterns, predictions and a variety of scenarios that show you the best possible outcome. AI gives businesses all of this. Machine learning algorithms uncover hidden patterns in data, providing a deeper understanding of operational processes. A retail business, for example, used AI to analyze sales data, predicting future demand and optimizing inventory levels. This not only reduced waste but also improved stock management, proving that continuous improvement was more valuable than striving for perfection.
I remember working on a project many years ago for a large Class I railroad in which we were working to improve the asset management of their locomotives. We spent many months making improvements to the process of how they complete the maintenance on a locomotive. We were limited though, as humans, to one location at a time doing time studies and observations to drive one small change followed by the next. Imagine if we had a tool that could take data from across the entire system and start to pinpoint patterns that create slowdowns and focus our limited time and efforts on the improvements that would have the greatest impact. This is what AI puts at the fingertips of every business in 2025.
"AI is the workhorse that never stops analyzing and adjusting. AI systems are able to make real-time adjustments to processes by analyzing data continuously, identifying patterns and predicting future trends, nonstop. This means that while we need to sleep, eat, and take breaks, AI is always on the ball finding the improvements."
I remember working on a project many years ago for a large Class I railroad in which we were working to improve the asset management of their locomotives. We spent many months making improvements to the process of how they complete the maintenance on a locomotive. We were limited though, as humans, to one location at a time doing time studies and observations to drive one small change followed by the next. Imagine if we had a tool that could take data from across the entire system and start to pinpoint patterns that create slowdowns and focus our limited time and efforts on the improvements that would have the greatest impact. This is what AI puts at the fingertips of every business in 2025.
Insights lead to Real-Time Adjustments
AI is the workhorse that never stops analyzing and adjusting. AI systems are able to make real-time adjustments to processes by analyzing data continuously, identifying patterns and predicting future trends, nonstop. This means that while we need to sleep, eat, and take breaks, AI is always on the ball finding the improvements. As an example, Siemens has implemented AI in its MindSphere platform to monitor their industrial equipment. As the machines run, they are constantly feeding data and information back to the platform for analysis which can provide real time adjustments that will optimize machine performance helping to improve the overall operational efficiency.
Another example is a large Fortune 100 who implemented AI to measure real-time sentiment of during customer interactions. The tool was able to identify emotions and while providing agents with live feedback on adjustments they could make to their approach during the call. This led to improvements in their customer experience metrics within the first couple of months of implementation.
The Ongoing Journey: The Future of AI in BPM
As we move further into 2025, the role of AI in BPM will continue to expand. Businesses that embrace AI-driven process optimization are better positioned to navigate the complexities of the modern market. The journey is ongoing, with each step forward bringing new insights and improvements.
AI is not just enhancing process optimization; it is redefining it. By focusing on progress over perfection, AI empowers businesses to make smarter, faster decisions. The result is a more efficient, productive, and innovative organization ready to thrive in the future. If you are ready to embrace AI in your business process management and see an acceleration of improvements, then contact Northridge for 15 minute conversation.
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