Embrace Analytics, AI, SAS urge organisations, business owners

It has been observed that in a rapidly changing business environment, businesses are under pressure to not only comply with constantly changing regulations but also to modernise their processes and systems.

The purpose, according to findings, is to help reduce compliance costs, improve efficiency and effectiveness, stay competitive and drive innovation, while looking for better ways to serve their customers.

Against this backdrop, it is also noted, businesses would become more successful based on how they use data, analytics and collaboration in the new analytics economy.

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This was the thrust of the conversations made at the SAS Road to Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence, (AI) Showcase in Lagos, recently.

Other topics treated at the forum included, the path to digital transformation, how to prioritise data, analytics and automation processes and using analytics to accelerate ones organisation’s path to value as well as demonstration of practical examples on how AI has improved customer experience and how innovation through analytics is possible.

Mr Desan Naidoo, Vice President, SAS Africa, while welcoming the participants noted that seeing we are in the analytics economy where data, people and machines work right to accelerate the pace of innovation, critical business decisions must be made via data analytics instead of gut feelings and guess work.

“At SAS, we are the leaders in business analytics software and services, and we help organisations across the globe transform their data into deep and well-defined insights.

“Insights that provide fresh perspective on ones business, helping to identify what’s working and fix what isn’t and innovate in ways that keep you ahead of the competition. Our solutions turn large amounts of data into knowledge you can act on, and also empower business leaders to capitalise on new opportunities and be seen as strategic business advisers by using analytics to align the marketing process with the customer journey.”

He added, “we want to avail businesses operating in Nigeria with solutions that help them to achieve a customer-centric business strategy with an integrated decision management approach—underpinned by artificial intelligence capabilities such as machine learning and cognitive computing.

“Our platforms address critical challenges across marketing,including planning customer-centric strategies, gaining insight from big data and analytics, optimising omni-channel customer interactions, and understanding the customer’s digital experience.”

A keynote presentation from Mr Neil Harbisson, referred to as the world’s first ‘cyborg’ artist, who is visiting Africa for the first time, was received with rapt attention. With a fully-functioning antenna installed in his skull to help him “hear” colour and paint sounds, Neil “decided to merge with technology in order to sense more realities with the natural world.

“Humans have limited number of sensors, but if we merge with technology, we could have more sensors that will enable us understand and unfold the real beauty of nature. We can add new senses and additional organs to extend our bodies’ capacity to experience the world. We can, in effect, redesign ourselves. Our current evolutionary step is to merge with technology and take an active part in the birth of our future selves. I work with artificial senses, which I call AS,” Neil said.

In his presentation, Senior Business Solutions Manager, Advanced Analytics & AI, SAS, Mr Larry Orimoloye encouraged organisations to adopt AI as it is transforming businesses by enhancing current analytical capabilities to better understand customers and deliver the best experiences like never before and fast enough for business differentiation. AI also sets new target for organisations and helps them to make informed decisions based on the outcome of its data analytics.