Tech leaders back AI & automation for economic growth
Industry leaders in the technology sector have responded to the Chancellor's Spring Statement, highlighting the role of emerging technologies and automation in driving productivity and growth in the UK.
Damian Stirrett, Group Vice President and General Manager UK & Ireland at ServiceNow, acknowledged the government's ambition to utilise emerging technology, particularly AI, to improve productivity within public services and stimulate economic growth.
"The Chancellor's Spring Statement has set a bold vision for the power of emerging technology and particularly AI to drive productivity across UK public services and contribute to growth in the wider economy."
"The Prime Minister is right to highlight that the UK public sector could unlock £45 billion annual savings by investing in its technology, but this will require a radical step-change in the way the Government invests in new technologies," Stirrett added.
"The announcement today of a new £3.25 Transformation Fund is a significant step. This is an opportunity for the chancellor to demonstrate tangible action. From reskilling programmes for workers, visible reductions in operational costs, or creating new job opportunities for the AI era, these are just some of the benefits that could be realised with the UK committed to restoring economic growth," he stated.
Rupal Karia, General Manager for UKI and MEA at Celonis, spoke on the need to modernise outdated public sector technology systems to maximise the potential of AI.
"The UK Government's Spring Statement was a reminder of the country's growth agenda, to improve living standards and public services. It is a timely opportunity to realise the potential of AI which can fuel productivity, innovation and economic growth. Yet, as outlined by the recent report by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), significant challenges need to be addressed to capitalise on AI, as many public sector technology systems remain outdated, often reliant on legacy infrastructure, siloed data, and manual workflows. These inefficiencies create costly bottlenecks and hinder the delivery of modern, responsive public services."
Karia emphasised the importance of Process Intelligence in integrating AI effectively, saying, "As the Government invests in public services and AI tools, it is important to remember that successful AI deployment doesn't have to be difficult, however it requires systems that speak the same language and this is where Process Intelligence offers an effective solution. This technology is the contextual layer between a company's data and AI."
"It provides real-time visibility into how processes actually run, identifying inefficiencies, and revealing where automation and AI can deliver the greatest impact. Once public sector organisations get their processes in order, they have already taken a vital first step to modernising operations and unlocking the true potential of AI, which will drive cost savings and help supercharge economic growth."
Fabian Veit, CEO of Make, highlighted automation as a key factor for businesses to scale and enhance competitiveness.
"UK businesses need to operate faster, smarter, and leaner than ever before. This has made automation essential, which will allow both the public and private sector to scale better, drive growth and accelerate their global competitiveness."
"And while new financial initiatives and tax-led plans will make a difference, harnessing automation can ensure businesses are equipped for growth. If the Government can advocate for removing operational inefficiencies, businesses and gov departments will have the resources needed to deliver the expansion that the Chancellor is seeking," Veit commented.
The remarks from tech industry leaders emphasize the critical role of technology and automation in responding to the economic challenges identified in the Chancellor's statement.
