Employee Experience, Employer

Exploring The Impact of Generative AI and Automation on IT Workflows

Written by

ODG Team Contributor

Published on

14 Nov 2023

You need to make sure every step of your process is friction-free to ensure your organization’s continued success. This is especially true in your workflows related to information technology since the world of work today exists in an ever-changing digital landscape.

Are you wondering how you can sustain a free-flowing process or improve the ones you currently have? The key is to lean towards the latest technological innovations – learn how to integrate generative AI and automation into your company’s operations.

Table of contents show

What is Generative AI and Automation?

As artificial intelligence becomes more popular in different industries, specific types of AI are proving really useful for many companies. One of these is Generative AI and it’s slowly emerging as a transformative tool that can revolutionize traditional processes throughout the working world.

Generative AI is a tool that can transform traditional processes. In simple terms, it can make all sorts of things like text, images, sound, and even videos when you give it a prompt and some data. It uses smart machine learning techniques like Large Language Models (LLMs) ¹ to study historical data and create an output according to insights and observations.

For instance, a cybersecurity team utilizes generative AI to efficiently generate realistic phishing email examples for employee training. By inputting a dataset of historical phishing emails and legitimate communications, the AI analyzes patterns and visual elements to understand phishing email features.

Once trained, the generative AI tool produces simulated phishing emails that mimic real-world attacker tactics, aiding employees in developing the skills to identify phishing attempts. This application improves cybersecurity training by delivering dynamic examples, bolstering defenses against evolving cyber threats.

Apart from AI tools, advanced automation is also making a big difference in IT-related workflows. In the past, traditional automation revolved only on repetitive and well-defined tasks. It excelled in routine and manual processes like file transfers and basic script executions.

Meanwhile, recent and more advanced automation is useful in a wider range of tasks. It can now help with more complicated things like analyzing data, making informed decisions, and creating adaptive responses. Because these innovations are so useful, research shows that more than 70 percent of companies are dedicating resources to implementing generative AI in their everyday work.²

Streamlining IT Workflows with AI and Automation

Aside from staying updated with the latest tools and technologies, integrating automation and generative AI into companies can produce numerous advantages for both employers and employees. Some of these benefits are as follows:

Reduce repetitive tasks – Both artificial intelligence and automation are capable of handling routine tasks that would’ve otherwise consumed valuable human resources. With AI models and automation, employees can focus on more stimulating tasks that can help meet company milestones faster.
Improve productivity – When AI and automation handle tiresome and time-consuming tasks, workers can actually take the breaks they need and avoid working too hard. This leads to improved employee well-being and performance which ultimately results in an increase in workflow productivity.
Enhance accuracy – Using automation and AI tools in certain IT-related tasks eliminates the risk of human error. These tools are capable of performing with a high level of accuracy and precision based on the program given to them.
Boost workflow efficiency -Generative AI tools and automation can be utilized in streamlining operations and workflows within organizations. They can finish tasks and aid employees in accomplishing operational goals on a daily basis.

How Generative AI and Automaton Improve IT Workflows

Many people say AI and automation can help industries but how exactly can it aid a field already using advanced technology and programs? The following are some steps in an IT workflow that both automation and generative AI could improve:

Research and Analysis

This step of the IT process includes gathering information and studying current trends within the industry. Further research is also done to deepen the understanding of professionals and equip them with vital data and insights. Automation could assist in collecting the data to be analyzed.

Meanwhile, generative AI’s ability to analyze huge datasets and other resources could yield more accurate and helpful findings. It could also give business leaders insights and recommendations they can use in important decision-making.

Code Generation and Development

When professionals create software applications and code modules, they need to write and build the code that makes these products work. This step is all about turning software requirements into actual functional code that meets the company’s standards.

Now, here’s where AI comes into play. In conducting AI work, IT developers can quickly generate templates, code snippets, and even modules based on detailed specifications and prompts. Aside from generating natural language, generative AI models reduce the rate of human error and ensure improved accuracy and consistency in coding.

Automated Testing

After creating the codes, IT professionals need to perform tests on the produced software applications. They use different tools such as test cases and scripts, to validate the software’s functionality, security, and performance.

Through automation, the process of testing could become easier and less complicated. Automation testing involves the automatic execution of scripts and test cases. Moreover, machines can also keep track of recording the results and identification of any existing defects.

Troubleshooting and Problem Solving

Projects don’t end the moment applications are launched. Even if things seem smooth, there can still be problems that customers might run into. That’s why it’s important for pros to figure out what’s wrong and fix it.

Traditional methods of analyzing error logs and system metrics took a lot of time and effort. With generative AI, identifying patterns would only take seconds. Other than helping experts identify the issues of the program, AI’s power of content creation could generate suggestions and recommendations on how to effectively solve the issues.

On the other hand, automation could help in data management and could result in little to no need for manual intervention.

Quality Assurance

Similar to troubleshooting, quality assurance focuses on the reliability and quality of IT products and services. In this step of the workflow, there needs to be a consistent and comprehensive approach to checking if the services or the products meet functionality requirements.

The need for continuous quality assurance makes AI technology and automation a perfect help for experts in the field of information technology. AI can aid in code reviews through error identification and vulnerability searches. On the other hand, automation plays a big role in quality assurance too.

Predictive Maintenance

They say the best cure for an illness is prevention. In the same way, maintenance is important to prevent any lasting damage that would cost a lot to fix. Proactively addressing possible issues would reduce downtime and enhance the reliability of technological systems.

The most effective way to conduct predictive maintenance is to use the tech tools available to you. In combining generative AI and automation, you can analyze huge amounts of historical data and conduct maintenance tasks when needed. Additionally, if you bring in IoT devices and cloud computing you can predict issues and inform the right people about them.

STREAMLINE YOUR PROCESSES WITH THE LATEST TECH TOOLS

On-Demand Group has consulting expertise in the latest tech tools to enhance productivity. Whether you need contract staff, contract-to-hire, or direct hires, we’re here to deliver. Contact us today to learn more about our solutions!

References

1 Hughes, Owen. “Generative AI Defined: How It Works, Benefits and Dangers.” TechRepublic, 7 Aug. 2023, www.techrepublic.com/article/what-is-generative-ai/.

2 Hughes, Owen. “More than 70% of Companies Are Experimenting with Generative AI, but Few Are Willing to Commit More Spending.” VentureBeat, 25 Jul. 2023, venturebeat.com/ai/more-than-70-of-companies-are-experimenting-with-generative-ai-but-few-are-willing-to-commit-more-spending/