Technological trends are sweeping through industries, and one of the buzzwords nowadays must be artificial intelligence (AI)! Some call it a revolutionary technology that will reshape the landscape, while others may say they are skeptical of its capabilities. Whichever perspective one may hold, they cannot deny its presence these days. As one of the proud early pioneers in the industry, VLK endeavors to embrace AI technology and prepare their employees with the necessary knowledge and skills to make the most of AI tools.
What to do?
How do they ensure that employees actually adopt AI tools? A recent experience they have had is not new in its essence: go to the offices and talk to people. The digital adoption team has launched hands-on sessions to improve employees’ AI literacy and skillset. These sessions help employees understand the ins and outs of AI, learn how to use AI tools effectively and get guidance when necessary, and critically assess any risks or problems that may arise.
To make these sessions even more effective, the digital adoption intern has conducted a research study for the team to understand the factors that influence employees’ intention to use AI tools. The research is based on academic theories including Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) which investigate the factors that can predict behavioral intentions.
The study involved a survey facing private bankers at VLK. Right after having the sessions, they were asked questions about their attitudes towards AI, subjective norms, self-efficacy, and the perceived relevance of the training content. The results showed that employees’ intention to use AI was positively associated with their attitudes towards AI’s usefulness and ease of use, their self-efficacy, and how relevant they found the training content.
That’s great, so… what?
What exactly do the findings mean for VLK and other companies looking to enhance digital adoption? It points out the area where digital adoption specialists should pay special attention to in order to help colleagues embrace AI. Efforts should be made to promote the benefits coming alongside AI and relieve colleagues of the cognitive barriers to using the tools. To use the tools more, colleagues need to be convinced that they are capable of doing that as a prerequisite, which can be achieved through setting up and achieving realistic small goals, for example. Last but not least, the importance of relevance is highlighted. Teams that want to enhance adoption may need to consider including the target audience in their strategic planning so as to better understand what their expectations and needs are.
Tired of work? There’s more to offer
Besides looking at the data and repeatedly saying how reliable and productive AI tools are, there are other fun things that can be communicated to attract colleagues’ eyes, of course. AI isn’t just for the corporate world. It can be useful in personal lives too. Recently, VLK also published an intranet article about planning summer getaway and using AI as an assistant. In the article, it explains how AI can assist people in finding holiday plans and events that suit their preferences. Whether they are looking to commemorate a special occasion, discover a new destination, or simply have a good time, AI can save you time and hassle by doing the research and planning for them. In the hope of fostering a habit of using AI, VLK has made efforts to educate people about AI’s helpfulness in both the corporate world and in personal lives.