Confronting Enterprise AI Skills Gaps with Bridgenext
As companies adjust to the rapid advancement of enterprise AI, skills gaps are becoming a barrier to continued success.
In fact, research suggests that companies are facing a global shortage of digital skills, with only 33% of technology jobs worldwide currently filled by the necessary skilled labour.
Consequences of increasing skills gaps can include a disconnect between business leaders and employees about their digital expectations. As a result, companies could find themselves disadvantaged with their innovative projects, as increased burnout and dissatisfaction could grow amongst their workforces. This also leads to a business losing its competitive edge and unable to harness new technologies like AI to their full potential.
In order to achieve their full potential, there is a growing need for businesses to invest in improved strategies and education to ensure their workforces are afforded the necessary skills to progress.
In considering this, Technology Magazine speaks with Rajesh Khanna, Chief Revenue Officer at Bridgenext, in this exclusive about how businesses can address knowledge gaps to retain critical business value.
How skills gaps have evolved in the workplace
As the workplace continues to evolve in line with rapid digital transformation, there are specific key skills that are in high demand. As Rajesh explains, mastering AI and building AI models is essential for a business if it wants to remain competitive.
“Equally important is the ability to focus on data and analytics, enabling organisations to unlock greater value from their data reservoirs,” he states. “A strong grasp of data and analytics is also critical for enhancing marketing effectiveness and driving revenue growth.”
He adds: “Cloud computing expertise is indispensable as companies continue to migrate to and optimise their operations in the cloud. Furthermore, domain-specific skills are vital, allowing professionals to tailor technology solutions to their unique industry needs.”
As more organisations prioritise AI adoption to maximise their technology investments, Rajesh highlights that these skills will become increasingly important for a business to maintain its edge. This has become particularly important in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which helped reshape the technology skills landscape - significantly by closing the gap between remote and office workers.
Rajesh suggests that this is set to continue. “We've seen that many tasks can be handled just as effectively offshore, which has expanded the talent pool for common skills and made these skills more accessible globally,” he notes. “However, finding the right talent for emerging technologies like AI, data and analytics, and cloud computing is still tough. These specialised skills are now even more valuable, and securing top talent often means paying a premium.
“The pandemic has democratised access to common tech skills, but it has also increased the demand and cost for cutting-edge expertise.”
Steps business leaders can take to close skills gap
When it comes to training employees, business leaders can often make oversights or even mistakes. Rajesh cites that one common error companies make is training teams for specific projects, instead of equipping them with broad foundational skills.
“This backs them into a corner,” he notes. “It can limit their adaptability and problem-solving abilities in the long run and it can reduce the overall value tech teams bring to the company. Another issue is not providing continuous skill development.”
Without consistent training, Rajesh explains that employees will quickly fall behind, with their skill sets not matching the evolution of technology. More broadly, businesses not currently working closely enough with technology consulting firms could have greater talent gaps and also major gaps in the capabilities of their organisation. These films can be invaluable for businesses, as they can work to fill skill gaps with tailored strategic guidance.
“Focusing only on training and not on the application of skills is also a big oversight. Employees need to apply what they’ve learned in real-world situations to truly master new skills,” he says.
To mitigate these issues, Rajesh states there are multiple ways business leaders can take steps to close skills gaps within their organisation. Notably, prioritising people investment, as Rajesh explains that recognising talent is critical for organisational success.
“This begins with having a clear vision of the desired talent profile to attract,” he explains. “There are endless resources business leaders can leverage to ensure talent and business strategy are aligned such as collaborating with trusted tech consulting firms and enabling swift acquisition of specialised talent essential for implementing emerging technologies.”
Additionally, businesses could benefit from prioritising the development of application-based skills programmes that emphasise real-world problem-solving. Rajesh explains that these programmes are able to equip employees with practical contexts and therefore enhance their developmental impact.
“Establishing continuous skilling programmes also offers a strategic advantage,” Rajesh adds. “By regularly upskilling teams, organisations ensure their workforce remains adept at navigating evolving technologies, sustaining a competitive edge in the market.
“In integrating these approaches, business leaders not only close skill gaps but also fortify their organisational capabilities for sustained growth and innovation.”
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