By Oliver Chapman, Founder and CEO of OCI Limited.
Keeping your business and staff on top of the AI revolution requires a combination of ongoing learning, strategic implementation, and adapting to the evolving technological landscape.
OCI invests heavily in training and upskilling staff, ensuring the team can access regular AI and tech-related training through online courses, workshops, or certifications. The training covers everything from AI fundamentals to more specialised topics like machine learning or natural language processing (NLP).
We want to promote a mindset of continuous improvement and adaptability while encouraging staff members to stay curious and open to learning new technologies, tools, and systems.
It’s also important to stay updated on AI advancements by following thought leaders, reading research papers, and subscribing to AI-related news sources, blogs, and podcasts.
We’re also looking into participating in AI-related conferences and webinars to network, learn about the latest research, and explore emerging trends that could impact businesses.
Businesses may look to implement AI tools that can automate repetitive tasks such as data entry, customer support, or administrative work. This frees staff to focus on higher-value tasks requiring creativity and critical thinking.
Using AI-driven data analysis tools to make smarter business decisions will have a massive impact on businesses as AI continue to evolve in 2025. Machine learning models can help with predictive analytics, customer segmentation, and demand forecasting.
Organisations should also look at integrating chatbots, recommendation engines, or personalised marketing techniques that use AI to enhance the customer experience.
Working with AI specialists or consultancies to guide you through AI strategy development and implementation may also be key for some businesses, as these can help ensure you choose the right tools, platforms, and techniques for your specific needs. Developing custom AI solutions with external partners or in-house teams may also be an option.
Cloud-based AI platforms (like AWS, Google Cloud, or Microsoft Azure) can help provide the flexibility and scalability needed to deploy AI models without heavy upfront investment in infrastructure.
As AI grows, so do privacy, bias, and security concerns. Clear policies then need to be set for the ethical use of AI, ensuring that AI-driven decisions are transparent, fair, and aligned with company values.
AI systems can perpetuate biases if not carefully designed so it’s always good to encourage diversity in your team to ensure that AI tools are inclusive and do not unintentionally discriminate against certain groups.
Rather than fearing job displacement, businesses must focus on transforming existing roles to leverage AI tools. As AI creates new opportunities, there will be more emerging job roles, such as AI specialists, data analysts, AI ethics officers, or machine learning engineers, which may help organisations bridge the skills gap and remain competitive. Ongoing training is vital, however.
If you want to gain a competitive edge in your industry, businesses can allocate resources to research and development, allowing your business to explore AI innovations before they become mainstream.
However, not all AI solutions are suitable for every business, so assessing how AI can enhance your specific business model – whether it’s improving logistics, customer service, supply chain, or content creation matters.
Many businesses are starting with pilot AI projects, testing on a small scale before fully integrating them into their processes. This minimises risks and ensures smoother transitions as AI tools evolve.
It is vital to communicate the benefits of AI to your employees, showing how it can improve their work processes, enhance decision-making, and unlock new business opportunities.
By fostering this innovation culture and ensuring staff are continuously educated on AI, you can position your company to thrive in the evolving technological landscape. The AI revolution is not just about the tools but also about the mindset and strategies companies adopt to integrate and leverage these technologies effectively.
About the expert
Oliver Chapman founded OCI Limited – a global supply chain management and procurement company recognised as the UK’s fastest-growing company in 2022 by the Financial Times.
