Nasscom’s analysis shows India’s digital talent is growing 5x faster than core tech talent. Specifically, the supply of key digital skills such as cloud computing, AI, Big Data Analytics and IoT seems to have grown at a CAGR of more than 20% in the last five years.1
With this rise in skilled talent and penetration of internet, India’s rapid adoption of emerging technologies like AI, blockchain, IoT and others has been widely reported.
With businesses preparing for this massive change, leaders seek to arm their organizations with a thorough awareness of new technology capabilities, technical skills for leveraging new technologies, and a vision centred on innovative approaches to old IT procedures. However, one of the most significant impediments to AI adoption is a shortage of AI expertise.
Organizations implementing upskilling programs for their employees should concentrate on building expertise, starting with fundamentals for all and progressing to degrees of more complex specialization for specific jobs. AI literacy, contextual AI understanding, and AI solution-oriented capabilities are the three main tiers of skill progression that can effectively build AI skills.
1. Companies must invest in imparting AI literacy
AI literacy is defined as the ability to understand basic tools and concepts involved in AI. This is the foundation step involved in AI upskilling and should be developed across the organization, focussing on data calculated information, ability to collaborate with machines that empower or are driven by artificial intelligence, and the ability to see computer-based intelligence as a valuable open door in the organization.
2. Launch practical learning projects
Organizations must consider training employees in the new-age tools and technologies. This upskilling will enable the employees to apply their skills and knowledge to real business problems that organizations face. This helps employees apply their learnings to on-site problems which further helps them distinguish between theoretical and practical learning. This facilitates better learning and retention.
Organizations can consider enhancing product lines, customer service deliveries, sales process, or even marketing strategies using AI pilot programs.
3. Make acquiring AI skills a constant process
A one-time or short-term program may be beneficial for some types of training, but not for acquiring AI skills. AI landscape is changing constantly and will undergo tremendous transformation, both in complexity and speed. The businesses that will create initiatives for continual education and training will prosper most.
Hosting internal hackathons promotes innovative thinking by allowing employees to showcase, practise, and implement their skills. As some team members become more knowledgeable in AI, organizations can incentivize them to help more inexperienced team members catch up, which can have a variety of positive effects. It can be quite beneficial to develop internal AI professionals into mentors and evangelists.
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