E-Business
The Future of Enterprise AI isn’t about More Data – It’s About The Right Data
Artificial intelligence promises to transform every aspect of business operations, yet a lot of companies lack clarity on how to get from pilot to full production and value realisation. In today’s digital landscape they struggle with islands of data spread across various systems, leading many workers to not trust the data used to train AI systems and experience difficulty to get what they want out of them.
According to Salesforce research, only 28% of applications are connected, and over 80% of business leaders struggle with data fragmentation and data silos.
While three-quarters of workers surveyed in the recent “Your Data, Your AI” survey from Salesforce believe accurate, complete, and secure data is critical to building trust in AI, more than half do not trust the data used to train AI systems today. And nearly 60% of AI users worldwide find it difficult to get what they want out of AI, the report found.
The future of enterprise AI isn’t about more data – it’s about the right data. When AI is grounded in a company’s own data, it delivers more useful results and ultimately drives greater trust and adoption.
Only by consolidating their data will companies be able to fully understand the complete customer journey. A trusted data foundation and integrating AI into workflows across the enterprise are key ingredients needed for AI success.
Deploying these together, companies can unlock enterprise deployments at scale and drive measurable outcomes from AI automation, personalisation, and performance optimisation, including higher sales productivity, faster customer service resolutions, higher-conversion marketing campaigns.
Building a trusted data foundation
For AI to live up to the hype, large language models (LLMs) must be grounded in trusted enterprise data. However, with data trapped in disconnected silos, wholesale digital transformation and value realisation remains elusive. Prospects are worse when the data being used to ground AI models is incomplete, incorrect, or irrelevant — leading to inconsistent, incorrect results.
Unlocking the power of trapped data enables better analysis, decision-making, and AI automation, grounding customer and business data and metadata — a common language that integrates all applications — in ways that deliver trusted, outcome-oriented results without expensive model training.
Take, for example, real-time data that a prospective customer has just visited a company’s website. Previously, sales reps would have had no way of knowing this without manually pulling data into a custom report. Real-time data brings actionable insights, allowing for immediate customer engagement, resulting in higher conversion rates, revenue growth, and customer satisfaction.
Trust is a key component of successful enterprise AI deployments. By unifying and cleansing their data, companies can ensure that AI models operate on the most accurate information.
At Salesforce, we have engineered trust into every Salesforce application through our Einstein Trust Layer, a core part of the Einstein 1 Platform. The Einstein Trust Layer includes data masking to ensure data privacy protection, a zero-retention architecture to ensure data is never learned by AI models or stored outside Salesforce, an LLM audit trail, and keeps humans at the helm of every AI interaction. We have also built-in a feedback loop that continuously improves model accuracy and relevance, and this feedback data is automatically logged in Data Cloud.
Integrating AI into the flow of work
The need to deliver AI in the flow of where companies’ sales, service, marketing, commerce, developer, and other employees work explains why they’re leaning into conversational assistants, for their employees to interact with any data or workflow across their enterprise.
With specific customer data, employees can generate useful responses which are automatically grounded in all of their organisation’s trusted data and metadata. From generating customer campaigns, to answering service questions, everything is personalised, based on consolidated data – all securely within the confines of their company’s data and business processes.
The powerful combination of data and CRM makes these personalised customer experiences possible. For today’s consumer, milliseconds matter. The cost of not keeping up with them could be lost sales opportunities, poor social media reviews, or a disconnect in healthcare delivery.
While generative AI is still in its early stages for most companies, the potential for true enterprise transformation is immense. Those that can put in a foundation of data and trust, and offer AI in the flow of where their employees work, will be able to shift from pilot to production and realise tremendous value, employee satisfaction, customer loyalty, and business growth.
E-Business
Sterling Bank Pioneers Africa’s First Indigenous Core Banking System
Sterling Bank Limited, has made history by migrating to what is believed to be the continent’s first-ever indigenous core banking solution called SeaBaaS.
The implementation of SeaBaaS, developed by Peerless, according to a statement obtained by Nigeria CommunicationWeek, marks the completion of a new banking system announced to customers in August 2024.
This strategic move positions Nigeria as a leader in digital banking, driven by local talent and cutting-edge technology.
Leveraging advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence, the system according to the lender, promises to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency, providing smarter, faster financial services.
Speaking on the achievement, Abubakar Suleiman, CEO of Sterling Bank, said SeaBaaS is the first fully developed core banking platform that is wholly built and owned by an African technology company.
He described the development as the start of a new revolution in Africa’s drive for economic self-sufficiency, noting that the intellectual property underpinning SeaBaas will be available to partners across the continent in the coming months.
For regulators, it ensures greater transparency, robust reporting, and compliance with evolving standards.
“Partnering with Peerless to create SeaBaaS is not just a milestone for us; it is a renewal of our resolve and ambition to remain a world-class organization. It is proof that African institutions can do great things that will make the world stand up and take notice of us,” said Suleiman.
“We are once again proving that the notion of Nigerian banking being one of the most technologically advanced is not just a myth, but a reality that is manifested in the quality of solutions we can develop, and services we can deliver to our customers.”
Suleiman explained that the transition to SeaBaaS represents many things to many people. “For the African banking industry, it is the continent’s first indigenously conceived and engineered core banking application, built and owned entirely by a Nigerian company, with every line of code, database configuration and interface proudly African, delivered by homegrown talent.
“For our customers, it offers faster transactions, enhanced security and innovative financial products tailored to their needs. For regulators, it ensures greater transparency, robust reporting and compliance with evolving standards.”
The bank’s CEO acknowledged the challenges faced during the implementation, stating that implementation issues had been resolved, with the institution’s full bouquet of digital banking services being restored in phases for customers’ use.
According to him, “This successful deployment reminds us that nothing truly valuable comes without challenges. While this transition has tested our systems and patience, it also reinforced our commitment to innovation and excellence. We enter this new phase confident that the migration will deliver unmatched efficiency and transformative customer experiences.”
He also pointed out the financial implications of the migration, noting that African banks collectively spend hundreds of millions of dollars annually on foreign core banking systems, which exacerbates the continent’s trade balance issues.
“The introduction of SeaBaaS not only sets a new benchmark for Nigerian financial services but also paves the way for a future where African institutions can reduce their technology costs, thereby enhancing financial inclusion, he said.
Sterling Bank’s migration to SeaBaaS adds to its history of being at the forefront of market-leading innovations. The bank pioneered Nigeria’s first contactless prepaid transport card (FarePay) and the first automated retail lending solution (Specta).
It has also partnered with state governments to deploy innovations like the first drone delivery system for pharmaceutical consumables with Zipline in Kaduna, and digitized medical records.
E-Business
Konga’s Back-to-School Campaign Empowers Learners and Educators with Unbeatable Deals
Konga’s Back-to-School campaign has been a game-changer for parents, students, teachers, and other stakeholders in Nigerian education.
Since its launch three weeks ago, the campaign—which offers necessary school supplies and educational tools at discounts of up to 80%—has given educators and families alike a lifeline.
In a time when many are feeling the pinch of the current economic climate, Konga’s Back-to-School campaign has stepped up to support Nigerian families in preparing for the new academic year.
Because of the back-to-school campaign, parents can now afford to buy everything their kids need for school, including tech devices, backpacks and stationery, without straining their finances.
At the core of Konga’s Back-to-School initiative is its commitment to empowering learners as they resume a new session. The deals provide a wide range of educational resources to make sure pupils are prepared for academic success.
Konga has addressed the diverse demands of all students, from nursery school pupils in need of new stationery to university students requiring laptops for their schoolwork.
Moreover, with the discounts offered during the campaign, more families can now afford high-quality products. This ensures that every learner, regardless of their financial situation, has the tools they need to thrive academically.
Konga’s Back-to-School campaign has also been a tremendous support for parents and educators. By offering substantial discounts on a wide range of products, Konga has made it easier for parents and educators to shop for what they need, while saving money.
Furthermore, Konga’s Back-to-School campaign is not just about school supplies; it aims to meet the broader needs of the educational community. The campaign has also featured deals on items like beauty, health and personal care products, electronics and fashion.
This ensures that students are not only academically prepared but also physically and mentally ready for the challenges of a new school year.
In addition, Konga has made it easy for shoppers to access these incredible deals through its user-friendly online platform. With just a few clicks, customers can browse, select, and purchase what they need, with the added convenience of nationwide delivery.
As the Konga Back-to-School campaign continues, it is evident that it has made a significant difference in the lives of many Nigerians.
For those who are yet to take advantage of these deals, there is still time to shop and save before the end of September. Visit Konga.com today and equip your kids with everything they need for a successful school year.
E-Business
Allison, BHM Partner to Host ‘Africa Breakfast Convos’ @UNGA79
Africa stands at vital crossroads, balancing intricate geopolitical challenges while taking advantage of promising economic opportunities. With the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) announcing 73 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects in Africa worth more than $53 billion in the last year alone, according to the World Economic Forum, and significant growth in technology, renewable energy, and healthcare sectors, across the continent, Africa is poised for remarkable progress.
In light of these developments, Allison, a globally renowned communications consultancy, and BHM, Africa’s leading public relations firm, are joining forces to co-host an exclusive breakfast event on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79) in New York City.
The “Africa Breakfast Convos,” set for Friday 27 September 2024, at the World Trade Center, will convene business and public sector leaders from various African nations, representing key sectors such as telecommunications, finance, entertainment, government, technology, and trade.
With 70% of sub-Saharan Africa’s population under 30 and projections indicating that one-fifth of the global population will be African by 2030, the continent’s youthful demographics are drawing significant international attention.
This exclusive gathering aims to showcase Africa’s immense potential for economic growth and development while emphasising the continent’s role in achieving sustainable development goals.
The event will feature panel discussions, keynote speeches, and networking sessions exploring various aspects of the African narrative: big business, technology, pop culture, creative economy, soft power, and geopolitics. It will serve as a platform to highlight expertise and innovation on the continent.
Claudine Moore, Managing Director, Africa, at Allison, stated, “The ‘Africa Breakfast Convos’ represents a unique opportunity to bring together influential voices and decision-makers from across Africa and beyond.
“We’re excited to again facilitate meaningful dialogue during the United Nations General Assembly when Africa is a focus and we are collectively working towards collaboration driving sustainable growth and social impact across the continent.”
Femi Falodun, Executive Director, BHM, added, “This event underscores Africa’s position as a land of opportunity for investment and collaboration.
“By showcasing the continent’s dynamism and potential, we aim to foster partnerships that will contribute to shared prosperity and sustainable development.”
The “Africa Breakfast Convos” aligns with UNGA79’s theme while focusing on Africa’s potential as a driver of global progress.
“It emphasises the role of business in driving sustainable development, the importance of public-private partnerships, and the opportunities for collaboration with Africans in the diaspora.
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