The era of artificial intelligence has long since dawned, but uncertainty and scepticism continue to prevail in companies. Fears of loss of control, opaque decisions or black box models are just as prevalent as concerns about data protection risks and ethical reservations.
These concerns are understandable, but they must not become a strategic obstacle. AI is no longer a utopian vision of the future, but rather a decisive lever for competitiveness, increased efficiency and innovative business models. Companies are no longer faced with whether to use AI, but rather when and where it will deliver the greatest added value.
The disruptive potential of this technology is particularly evident in the area of electronic data interchange (EDI) – often a labour-intensive and costly bottleneck. Manual errors and time-consuming correction loops are a thing of the past when AI controls the processes.
But how does that work without relinquishing control?
The solution lies in clearly distinguishing between and making targeted use of intelligent assistants. While the AI agent automates processes in the background and makes decisions independently (such as detecting errors in an order number), the AI buddy acts as an extended arm of the employee. It immediately provides the relevant customer data and suggests precise corrections.
This combination – intelligent automation by the agent and human-controlled support by the buddy – transforms AI from a feared black box into a transparent, reliable and economical digital assistant.
Read the full article in IT Management to find out exactly how this combination works, why AI-driven EDI can automate up to 90 per cent of processes, and why this makes AI a strategic success factor.