Technology: Preparing for AI: Upskill Your Team

AI is changing the business landscape. From automating repetitive tasks to providing valuable insights for decision-making, AI is set to boost productivity and drive innovation.

However, the success of AI uptake depends heavily on the skills of the people who drive its implementation and ongoing use. As AI applications evolve rapidly, having the right skills on your team can be challenging. For organisations wanting to embrace AI effectively, upskilling staff is crucial.

Strategic approaches to upskilling

1. Identify skill gaps: Start by understanding the existing skills and strengths of your team. This includes technical skills like machine learning and data science, as well as soft skills like change management and critical thinking.
2. Invest in continuous learning: Upskilling and AI readiness shouldn’t be seen as a one-time event. As AI technology advances, so should your workforce’s skills. This could involve sending team members for advanced training, workshops, or certification programs to keep them up to date.
3. Collaborate with educational institutions: Consider partnering with universities or online training providers to access specialised AI courses for your organisation.
4. Leverage internal knowledge: Encourage knowledge sharing within your organisation. In-house specialists can coach their colleagues, fostering an environment where understanding and sharing are valued.
5. Hire the Skills You Need: In addition to upskilling, consider hiring new talent with the specific skills required for your AI initiatives. This can help fill critical gaps and bring fresh perspectives to your team.

With AI adoption growing rapidly across industries, reskilling and upskilling are necessities. By investing in the future growth of employees, organisations prepare them to capitalise on the opportunities presented by AI.

For example, our team at Hudson needed to upskill to deliver our AI pilots and projects. Fortunately, we were able to do this with our existing data team. Since our AI use cases are closely related to data, it made sense for the data team to expand their skill sets. Our existing technical governance adapted well to AI and data considerations, and the development methods were already familiar to the team. This approach allowed the team to enhance their skills and explore various AI systems on the market. It also gave the data team the latitude and time to work on their skillsets and start to explore different functionalities of various AI systems.

This experience highlights that while upskilling across technical and soft skills is crucial for the development and adoption of AI, so is the creation and management of an effective AI team to deliver your strategy.

At UpperGround, we specialise in helping businesses connect with talent specialists who have the skills needed to drive your business forward.
If you need AI specialists, head for UpperGround. Contact us today