As I step into my new role as VP of Innovation at Dura Digital, I am excited about the impact technology will have on us in 2024. Companies like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, OpenAI, and others are moving forward at an incredible pace, and it feels like each day brings a new advancement that will transform how we live and work. We’ll have to be thoughtful about how we adopt these advancements and bring them into our lives, and once they are adopted, I am confident they will have a positive impact on our productivity and satisfaction. Below are a few of the areas I am excited about, and how I believe they’ll impact us this year.

‍Enabling a strong foundation with artificial intelligence (AI): 

As organizations contemplate their digital future, many are still challenged by their legacy technology foundations, ways of working, or the amount of technical debt they have accumulated over the years. AI can already help reduce the impact of these challenges, in a few different ways. Here are a couple of examples we’ve seen with clients: 

• Migrating to a new codebase often involves updating legacy systems, a task that many organizations delay due to the significant effort required and difficulty in convincing stakeholders of its necessity. However, Generative AI tools like Copilot, Google’s Codey, or ChatGPT can greatly ease the burden of code conversion, streamlining this process, and reducing the migration cost.

• Improving Problem Management can be challenging, especially when addressing the amount of accumulated technical debt that hinders digital transformation. Previously, extensive effort was needed just to manage symptoms and keep operations running. Now, Generative AI tools like ChatGPT or Copilot can expedite diagnosing and resolving technical issues, transforming hours of troubleshooting into minutes by simply inputting the relevant context and code.

‍Managing change:

In an era where technology evolves rapidly, an organization's capacity to adapt swiftly is crucial to its success. Those unable to foster a culture and develop processes and structures that support change, risk falling behind. Thankfully, tools like Microsoft Copilot can help manage the disruptions GenAI creates. From producing documentation directly from code to tailoring instructions to individual learning styles, and creating new materials tailored to organizational needs, generative AI can efficiently craft varied formats of content. This supports more effective change campaigns and generates materials that resonate more deeply with teams.

Imagine a scenario where each team member has an assigned change management coach that can answer questions quickly, generate guiding material in the size and format desired, and match team member’s learning styles with audio, text, animations, and charts. We are getting closer and closer to this state. And we’ll soon be at a point where this can all be set up without much effort. As an example, we’ll soon be at a point where all of this can be accomplished by pointing a generative AI model to your project material, providing some context to the model, and ensuring the interface for your team members is accessible and intuitive.  

‍Cybersecurity at the forefront: 

As digital data continues to grow at an unprecedented rate, the importance of protecting sensitive information has become paramount, requiring a shift toward more advanced security strategies. As quantum computing advances, there is an expected surge in the development of sophisticated encryption techniques and enhanced security protocols. And as the worlds of quantum computing and AI connect, we’ll need to ensure every step forward we make, keeps cybersecurity in mind. 

Historically, we used to be able to think of introducing a change similarly to adding a new floor to a high-rise building. Each new floor has several windows and doors that pests or bad actors can access. With the emergence of AI, not only will productivity increase, but we’ll also have less direct insight into how AI generates the final product. This means that the risk of adding hidden doors and windows in each release will increase significantly without the right practices in place. 

‍Empowering the workforce with AI: 

The integration of AI in the workplace is reshaping not just the tasks we perform, but also our job satisfaction and perceptions. I believe tools like Microsoft Copilot, Google’s Vertex, and ChatGPT will significantly enhance job satisfaction by helping to automate routine and repetitive tasks, allowing employees to focus on more fulfilling activities that involve creative thinking and strategic planning. This shift is expected to boost productivity and deepen engagement with meaningful aspects of work, fostering a more motivated and engaged workforce.

Over recent years, we have completed assessments for clients that highlighted a discrepancy in time spent on actual work versus managing processes needed to deliver it. We've observed cases where team members spend up to 80% of their time on process management, leaving only 20% for core activities like problem-solving and building solutions. This imbalance hurts job satisfaction, especially for those passionate about their field, such as developers who prefer coding to administrative tasks. I am optimistic about AI's potential to automate the mundane parts of our day-to-day, streamline processes, and free up time for more significant work, enhancing both productivity and job satisfaction. With the launch of Dura Digital’s Copilot Studio earlier this month, I am excited about our ability to enable organizations to realize their productivity potential and build a stronger culture.

2024 is filled with opportunities and challenges alike. I am thrilled to be at the helm of innovation at Dura Digital through our studios and near-shore model, steering us towards a future where technology not only serves the needs of our clients but anticipates and solves those needs and creates a foundation for the future. If you're intrigued by the ideas listed above, please reach out today; I’d love to discuss your challenges and how recent advancements can best support your team’s needs and unlock new levels of efficiency, employee engagement, and business success.