Unlocking Unprecedented Work Automations and Changes: The Role of AI and Workforce Innovation
Artificial intelligence is not just a buzzword but a key enabler of innovation in workforce management, customer experience, and operational efficiency, continuously recreating and redefining industries. Walmart, BCG, AARP, and other organizations brainstorm how AI will fundamentally change companies in the next 12 months. Workforce Innovation board members guided this discussion on important topics including upskilling workers, increasing productivity, and ensuring responsible adoption of AI.
Workforce of the Future and Reskilling
AARP Chief HR Officer Marjorie Powell said with the emergence of AI development, upskilling and flexibility would become more crucial than ever for employees. The global labor shortage indicates that human workers are still needed, but we cannot afford to settle down. Workers will have to relearn their functions in order to remain relevant,” she explained. Powell was also quick to point out the significance of “prompt engineering” — how workers create distinct and constructive inputs that prepare them to interact with AI tools, as a precise skill.
Speaking in agreement with these sentiments, Sudheer Devaraju, Solution Architect at Walmart said, “AI is not here to make jobs disappear, it is here to help reinvent jobs,” he told the meeting. Walmart has provided employees with upskilling opportunities and created a focus on training with AI-driven tools. Walmart, said Devaraju, has a “community of practice” that fosters sandboxes where employees can play with the AI tools, cross-pollinate ideas, and adopt a test-and-learn mentality.
AI as an Innovation Growth Catalyst for Business
Using AI in a strategic manner, Walmart is known for its operational efficiency and innovation in labor management, and AI is at the core of this phenomenon. Sudheer Devaraju provided insights into how Walmart is incorporating AI into its HR systems and operations, ranging from workforce scheduling to supply chain management.
Alicia Pittman, Global People Team Chair at BCG, explained how generative AI is freeing human bandwidth and igniting creativity. According to Pittman, “Teams are building thousands of custom GPTs for streams, analyses, and newsletters, streamlining processes at a fairly low cost of entry.” She noted that AI also helps prevent knowledge leakage, retaining institutional knowledge within teams even as staff take on new roles.
Integrating AI Across All Business Verticals
According to Maggie Hulce, Chief Revenue Officer at Indeed, “Customers want their customer-facing products infused with AI to ensure they are intuitive and personalized.” Hulce added, “AI enables scalable human-like experiences.” She mentioned the necessity to dismantle silos in sales, marketing, and customer service to deliver holistic customer experiences.
Commenting on Walmart’s approach to enterprise-level technologies, Devaraju said, “We operate on an AI-first philosophy. We ensure that AI is a primary pillar of every integration initiative and build for scale and smarter workflows around it. This ensures the solutions deployed by Walmart are not people-based but people + AI-based.
Adoption of Governance and Ethical AI
Kenon Chen, EVP of Strategy and Growth at Clear Capital, mentioned that with the pace at which AI is increasing, there is an urgent requirement for governance.
Likewise, Devaraju pointed to Walmart’s prioritization of AI governance to manage privacy, security, and compliance risks. He elaborated that AI governance is not something they slap on at the end but rather a foundation that influences every deployment.
The Soft (Human) Side of AI Transformation
Sharawn Tipton, Chief People and Culture Officer at LiveRamp, emphasized the need for trust in AI. This has to be done by addressing fears around job security and articulating how AI is simply a tool for facilitating the process, not the end goal,” she said.
Devaraju said Walmart is trying to be clear with its associates about how AI fits in. “Our aim is to build trust in AI and to prove that it augments, not replaces, human potential,” he added.
Walmart: Masters of HRIS Adoption and AI Integration
The HRIS implementation and AI integration at Walmart exemplify the importance of scalability, adaptability, and human-centered design in large-scale projects. Sudheer Devaraju, Staff Consultant and Architect with Walmart, supports a phased approach that considers both technology and workforce readiness. This involves using sandbox environments for testing and experimentation, empowering employees to use AI tools in real-world settings. Walmart has equipped its workforce with the skills to leverage AI by creating a culture of continuous learning through upskilling programs.
Moreover, Sudheer ensures AI governance by focusing on stringent privacy, security, and compliance standards for every integration. Walmart has achieved operational precision with AI-embedded HRIS workflows such as payroll automation, talent acquisition, and workforce planning allowing employees to execute their tasks with greater efficiency. This method proves that successful integration is driven by aligning technology with organizational goals, maintaining transparent communication with stakeholders, and preserving the human element of productivity.
What Will the Next 12 Months of AI Transformation Look Like?
While AI transforms industries, leaders agree that transparency, upskilling, and ethical adoption are essential for success. Examples of companies like Walmart, BCG, and AARP relentlessly raising the bar by embedding AI while keeping employee empowerment and data-driven innovation in focus serve as guiding principles.
Devaraju said:“The next 12 months are going to the critical. AI will evolve, and organizations that harness the full potential of AI in a responsible manner will pave the path to the future.”
