Artificial Intelligence in Business Applications

bathetic Intelligence in Business ApplicationsArtificial Intelligence and RoboticsBusiness functions that rat/ poopnot be automatizeINTRODUCTIONComputer systems today be a graphic symbol of almost only line of wrinklees this is because they put forward us, along with the added use of the Internet, with a variety of means that do transmission line operations easier, productivity higher, and communion plowes faster. Computers and the programs (or the softw atomic add together 18 applications that be inst tout ensembleed on them) along with the robotic systems do a great amount of the tasks that were previously performed by the employees and/or workers themselves. This transformation, towards an automated work environment, saved businesses a bay window of unwanted expenses, a lot of time, and caused profits to incr simmpleness steadily. Computers substituted, in different business structures, classical machines and tools, such(prenominal) as the calculator, the fax, t he telephone, the photocopier and umteen to a greater extent. The mechanization of different business functions led many organisations and companies to a higher train in what concerns production and management.But the point that should be understood is that even though many processes and functions link up to businesses and organisations have been automated, there atomic number 18 even-tempered many aspects that ar not, or that cannot be, automated for a extensive range of reasons.BUSINESS FUNCTIONSThe main objective of any business is to achieve success. To be able to go by means of success, an organisation inevitably to have an effective structure because any entity depends exclusively on two factors which are management and use of breeding. An efficient use of information systems can every(prenominal)ow an easier and faster access to data that are essential for the workflow and for the quality of that work and, therefore, can assist the management in performing its duties in the best possible manner and in making the right decisions at the right times. In order to achieve such objectives, specific business functions should be established and specific tasks should be performed. both kind of business and every organisation, depending on the nature of their operations, the products or go that are provided by them, their geographical location, and depending on the management and production schools that they relate to, have different business functions, but there are certain generic functions that apply to all kinds of businesses all over the world. These functions are usually general management, information management, operations management, marketing, finance and accounting, and forgivingity resources.Lan and Unhelkar (2005) identify the several(a) generic business functions by stating that they are the function of Management and Administration which is the department whose tasks are to corporate resources, corporate image, quality in all as pects, industrial relations, stakeholders relations, productivity, and promotion, the function of Human Resources that should deal with job analysis, position classification, employee training, employee selection, employee auditing and promotion in addition to different link tasks, the function of Finance and Accounts that is responsible for the capital operations mandatory by the entire go-ahead activities the funds required by management, administration, sales, marketing, military man resources, and purchasing, the function of Purchase and Procurement, the function of Sales and Marketing, and the function of guest Care or Customer Support.According to an some separate source, business functions are universal and apply to every type of business. The most essential business functions are marketing, operations (production of goods and services), finance, and human resource management (Plunkett, Attner, and Allen 2005). Here, we shape a view according to which all functions ar e the same regardless of the type of business.The main indecision is to understand whether the above mentioned functions can be in whole or in part automated and/or computerised. In other words, can all the tasks concerning the business functions be transferred to intelligent electronic or robotic promoters move overing the level of efficiency and proficiency in which humans are capable of performing them? mechanization AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCEIn order to understand if all (or only some) business functions can be automated, it is authoritative to understand the meaning of the concept itself. According to MSN Encarta (2005) automation is a system of manufacture intentional to extend the capacity of machines to perform certain tasks formerly done by humans, and to control sequences of operations without human intervention. The term automation has also been used to describe non-manufacturing systems in which programmed or voluntary devices can die hard independently or nearly independently of human control. In the fields of communications, aviation, and astronautics, for mannequin, such devices as automatic telephone switching equipment, automatic pilots, and automated guidance and control systems are used to perform various operations much faster or better than could be accomplished by humans.For us to r separately such a system, a certain computerised aspect should be developed an aspect which enables machines to execute precondition tasks according to the craved level. For such an objective, experts and programmers should be able to produce information systems that possess some of the characteristics of countersign this is why such systems are referred to as systems of artificial intelligence, or simply intelligent machines in other words, computerised systems that are pre-programmed to perform a certain mission with the same level of accuracy of a apt human being. It is the science of creating machines that are intelligent, and in a more specific context, intelligent computer computer software-programs operate according to the present hardware. It attempts to comprehend the mechanisms in which human intelligence works and then imitates it in the flair the prospective intelligent machines should work, avoiding the limitations of biologically tie in weaknesses.Bailey (1992) describes his consciousness of intelligence as the ability to reason or have a logical thinking, and to have an effect on the environment this will require a good level of knowledge that should be acquired. To be able to simulate humans, machines should possess the capability of understanding the world. Computers, or intelligent machines, should be knowledgeable on a level that is even cabalisticer and more minute than we are Depending on knowledge, intelligent machines (or computers or robots) will be in a position to outcome any of our questions, they could perform any task efficiently, and they can solve complex and difficult problems much more rapidly.Bailey also states that another important feature that intelligent machines should have is connectivity to for each one other all some the world by means of the use of networks, which will make it even easier for them to gain more knowledge and to go past it to one another. Then there is another feature that is the ability to establish an effective level of communication between intelligent computers and humans through both written and verbal means and not through commands typed through a keyboard and a screen. Finally Bailey puts the physical qualities, such as vision, hearing, as the final of his desired intelligent computer or robot through the use of visual and auditory sensors similar to, or better than, those of humans.AUTOMATING BUSINESS FUNCTIONSThe organisational structure is the setting that defines all the departments of the organisation, identifies the responsibilities and duties of each department, regulates the relationship between the various departments a nd explains how each of them should interact with the others in the way that guarantees the achievement of the desired outcome.As Clarke and Anderson explain, an organizational role is defined as a set of functions together with a set of obligations and authorities. The same human or artificial agent can play several roles within that specific organisation (187).The various tools of info technology can assist the ships company in gathering, elaborating, processing, storing/documenting, and distributing all the information that is needed for planning, decision making, and control. The use of computers and the simplicity they offer are important elements in what concerns the enhancement of all the mentioned processes. This fact explains how information technology influences the way in which organisations tend to make the tasks and processes within them. Ross (2003) explains that information technology (IT) has progressively become key link integrating the business opening and its logistics capabilities with its customers and supplies Simply, the organizations ability to create, collect, assimilate, access, and transfer information must be in alignment with the stop number of the activities necessary to execute effectively supplier, customer service, logistics and financial processes.As mentioned earlier, many aspects related to the various tasks of businesses are now computerised and/or automated. Accounting and financial processes, for example, are not done only on wallpaper as they once used to be instead complete computer systems that rely on software applications are those that elaborate, document, communicate, and distribute the various pieces of information among different employees working in different departments. Another example is that related to the processes of sales and marketing which depend heavily on the Internet and the means of communication offered by it. Sales force automation modules in CRM Customer Relation Management systems help sa les staff increase their productivity by focusing sales efforts on the most profitable customers, those who are good candidates for sales and services. CRM systems provide sales prospect and contact information, product information, product configuration capabilities, and sales quote generation capabilities (Laudon and Laudon 2006).For what concerns the accounts and finance function, there are clear indications that many of its tasks have been computerised. Large and medium-sized businesses are using ASPs Application Service Providers for go-ahead systems, sales force automation, or financial management, and small businesses are using them for functions such as invoicing, revenue enhancement calculations, electronic calendars, and accounting (Laudon and Laudon 2006). Another form of automation in this context is presented by Sanghvi (2007) as he states that online technologies have enabled payroll services to become a popular way for accounting firms to improve knob service, enha nce loyalty, and gain incremental business Many small business owners turn to their accountant for back-office services while they focus on growing their businesses, and this means that, through online systems, they can provide the external accountants with all the information needed in order to produce their legally accurate and acceptable financial documentation.Concerning human resources management, there are certain computerised systems that are capable of performing the main parts of the process that are related to that function. Torres-Coronas and Arias-Oliva (2005) refer to what they define as e-recruiting which consists of the practices and activities carried on by the organization that utilizes a variety of electronic means to fill open positions effectively and efficiently. The e-recruiting process consists of the following iterative steps identification of hiring needs submission of job requisition approval of the job requisition via a job database job circular on the In ternet online search of the job database by job seekers, online pre- covering fire/online self-assessment submission of applications by appliers directly into an applicant database online search of the applicant database for candidate selection online evaluation of rsum/application interviewing by recruiters/hiring managers online pre-employment screening and job offer and employment contractAnother example of a computerised business function, which is auditing, is presented by genus Castor and Verardo (2007) The change magnitude prevalence of complex computer information systems and electronic data interchanges has made most business transactions electronic in nature Technological advances have altered not only the veridical form of evidential matter required to be obtained by auditors, but also the competence of this evidence. applied science has had a significant impact on audit evidence, and existing auditing procedures could be improved in many shipway. The authors indica ted that new technologically related regimes of audits have been created to automate the auditing process.Laudon and Laudon (2006) explain that certain businesses took enormous steps towards the automation of the entire processes related to their core activity The management of UPS decided to use automation to increase the ease of sending a package using UPS and of checking its delivery status, thereby reducing delivery costs and increasing sales revenues The technology supporting this system consists of handheld computers, barcode scanners, wired and wireless communications networks, desktop computers, UPSs central computer, storage technology for the package delivery data, UPS inhouse package tracking software, and software to access the earthly concern Wide Web. The author indicates that the various processes of UPS have improved substantially thanks to the computerisation and inter-connectivity of their functions.When we study the potentials of automation for what concerns busi ness functions, it should be clearly stated that each function is a separate case with its own factors and qualities, which can allow or limit the possibilities of full computerisation of its different processes and tasks.Dorf and Kusiak (1994) state that almost every aspect of the manufacturing process can be automated Most manufacturing operations can be automated. Given the large number of manufacturing processes and assembly operations used in industry (the number is in the thousands) and the many possible ways in which any given operation can be automated. The authors give different examples of automated systems, such as the Automated Production Lines (which is a production system consisting of a series of automated workstations affiliated by an automatic parts transfer mechanism), Position and Motion Control Systems (which are required to position a work head or tool relative to a work part to accomplish a process), and the Industrial Robotics (which are general-purpose progr ammable machine possessing certain anthropomorphic characteristics).When the other business functions are examined, we find that almost every single task within the realm of each function can be automated Information concerning the major issues related to the business as a whole can be produced by computer systems on regular basis, and passed on to management for mental testing and study before reaching the right decisions in what concerns the survival and progress of their organisation. Accountancy and financial processes can be completely handled by intelligent systems that can, for example, calculate wages according to working hours, process payments to institutions and banks through electronic means over the Internet, can produce invoices and receipts to customers and suppliers, and can also manage shareowners issues. In the human resources function, information and requests can be effectuated electronically, but the final step, which is employees selection, cannot be performe d by automated systems because here the human factor and the human inter-activity is, and most probably will always be, the find out point. This is also valid for what concerns sales and marketing, the computerised system can perform all that is needed except the stages related to policy making and to physical delivery of products, as here the human factor is still required. in that location are certain missing parts if the desired objective is to reach a total automated business such parts can be overcome only if (or when) we manage to solve deep and important problems in what concerns artificial intelligence. Creating systems that can think as humans and can perform tasks related to the human factor will not be a fast endeavour, as we are still in the beginning of what concerns understanding and imitating intelligence.CONCLUSIONAs mentioned earlier, most of the tasks that are related to virtually all business functions can be computerised and/or automated, but the most important element is still the human factor. At the present level of technology, we are unable to create a fully automated business and we cannot transform an existing business entirely into a computerised one. Some business functions, such as accountancy and information management can be fully automated, some other functions, such as human resources and sales and marketing, can be computerised to a very high level, while other functions, such as general management, cannot be automated.Another reason, beside the technological limitations of the field of artificial intelligence today, is that people (whether customers or suppliers) are still not accustomed to dealing solely with machines.Works CitedBailey, C. (1992) Truly Intelligent Computers. Coalition for Networked Information online. Available from http//www.cni.org/pub/LITA/Think/Bailey.htmlcited 13 April 2007.Caster, P. and Verardo, D. (2007) Technology Changes the Form and Competence of Audit Evidence. The CPA Journal, 77(1), pp. 68-70 .Clarke, R. and Anderson, P. (2001) Information, Organisation, and Technology Studies in organisational Semiotics. Norwell, mammy Kluwer Academic Publishers.Dorf, R.C. Kusiak, A. (1994) Handbook of Design, Manufacturing and Automation. Hobokin, NJ John Wiley Sons, Inc.Lan, Y.C. and Unhelkar, B. (2005) Global Enterprise Transitions Managing the Process. Hershey, PA persuasion collection Publishing Inc.Laudon, J. and Laudon, K. (2006) Management Information Systems Managing the Digital Firm 10th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ Prentice Hall.Microsoft Encarta 2006. (2005) Automation. CD-ROM. Microsoft Corporation.Plunkett, W. R. Attner, R. F. and Allen, G. (2005) Management Meeting and Exceeding Customer Expectations. Mason, Ohio Thomson South-Western Publisher.Ross, D. F. (2003) Distribution Planning and Control 6th ed. Norwell, Massachusetts Kluwer Academic Publishers.Sanghvi, A. (2007) Improving Service Through Online Payroll. The CPA Journal, 77(3), pp. 11.Torres-Coronas, T. and Ari as-Oliva, M. (2005) e-Human Resources Management Managing Knowledge People. Hershey, PA Idea Group Publishing.