Artificial Intelligence: Operational Efficiency for Business

The influence of Artificial Intelligence, especially Generative AI, is fundamentally reshaping the global economy and enterprise operations. AI is no longer a peripheral technology but the base of corporate competitiveness and the primary platform for productivity, said Bruno Pancica, Business Growth Leader, IBM, at Mexico Business Summit 2025.

“Generative AI will have an impact equivalent to 7% of global GDP, about four times Mexico’s GDP, driven by productivity gains from automation, workforce upskilling, and the creation of new products, services, and business models,” he said. 

The speed, scale, and reach of Generative AI's impact are unprecedented. In terms of productivity, AI enables the automation of non-routine cognitive tasks like coding, data analysis, and text drafting, tasks that previously required specialized human intervention. 

Generative AI also introduces the concept of the Hybrid Workforce, marking a shift in how operational structures are designed. “In a few years, the first point of contact of a company will be a digital worker, meaning tech that is now doing a repetitive task,” said Pancica. 

Approximately 25% of current work tasks could be automated by Generative AI. “This allows human workers to focus on higher-value activities such as strategy, innovation, and leadership.” By simulating human behavior and integrating AI into real-life scenarios, a new operational model emerges, orchestrating the interaction between human and machine across departments like Procurement, Accounting, Human Resources, and Accounts Payable/Receivable.

The Impact and Results of Intelligent Automation

Industrial companies are among the most aggressive adopters, betting on AI, automation, Internet of Things (IoT), and the cloud to drive operational improvements. Over the next three years, 76% of industrial companies plan to implement AI and Machine Learning in their projects. Their most important business objectives, according to an IBM Institute of Business Value report, include improving operational efficiency (92%) and operational resilience (81%).

Intelligent automation delivers tangible results across the enterprise. “In IBM, we have saved billions in our processes across our areas, like procurement or analytics, by using this technology,” said Pancica. 

In manufacturing, smart automation has reduced scheduled downtime by 75% and increased asset availability by 50%. This led to an added capacity to manufacture 70,000 additional vehicles per year in one example.

In procurement, applying AI in purchasing led to a 20% reduction in personnel costs and a reduction of US$2 billion (MX$36.7 billion) in supplier spending year-over-year.

For AI adoption to succeed at an enterprise scale, organizations must choose a technology platform that addresses costs, intellectual property, and governance.

“Technology is no longer a cost center; it is the platform that enables companies to increase efficiency, innovate, improve customer experience, and streamline decision-making,” says Pancica.