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Embracing Artificial Intelligence and its potential at RPS
Artificial Intelligence is reshaping industries and at RPS we treat it as an opportunity, not a threat. This article explains RPS’s practical approach to AI adoption, which focuses on people, process and technology, and shows how upskilling staff, establishing robust governance and scaling analytics and generative tools can unlock smarter, faster and more cost effective solutions for clients across water and infrastructure.
Artificial Intelligence applications are becoming more prevalent across diverse industries such as healthcare, finance, retail, and manufacturing. As Artificial Intelligence technology advances, we can anticipate even more innovative and transformative applications in the future.
With this mindset, we recognise the importance of embracing Artificial Intelligence and its various capabilities to better understand how to harness its potential. This allows us to deliver innovative, intelligent solutions to meaningful challenges while creating shared value for our clients.
What is Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is known as the field of computer science that seeks to create intelligent machines that can replicate or exceed human intelligence. But generally, it is used as an umbrella term for a range of algorithm-based technologies that solve complex tasks by carrying out functions that previously required human thinking.
In the UK, The Government's 2023 policy paper on 'A pro-innovation approach to AI regulation' defined AI, AI systems or AI technologies as “products and services that are 'adaptable' and 'autonomous'.” Looking ahead, AI is empowering organisations to adapt to rapidly changing environments, navigate a more competitive market, and leverage the latest innovations.
As an organisation that prides itself on solving problems that matter, RPS understands that utilising AI is the next step in providing modern solutions to complex situations.
Benefits of AI
AI provides a variety of valuable advantages for organizations across all industries, with each benefit impacting businesses in a unique way by helping to reduce costs and save time. Companies are now seeking ways to optimise AI's efficiency and effectiveness, unlocking new possibilities and opportunities for increased profit and long-term success.
Below are some of the key benefits of AI, along with important factors to consider when implementing it.
- Increased Efficiency: AI can automate repetitive tasks, freeing up workers to focus on more complex and creative activities.
- Enhanced Decision-Making: By analysing vast amounts of data quickly, AI can provide insights to help organizations make more informed decisions.
- Cost Savings: Automating processes and optimizing operations can significantly reduce operational costs over time.
- Data Analysis and Insights: AI can process and analyse large datasets to uncover trends, patterns, and insights.
- Risk Management: AI can enhance risk assessment by predicting potential issues and identifying fraudulent activities, improving security measures.
- Scalability: AI systems can easily scale operations to accommodate increasing workloads without a significant increase in costs.
- Enhanced Accuracy: AI can improve accuracy in diagnostics, predictions, and decision-making processes.
- Accessibility: AI can help make services more accessible, such as through voice recognition for individuals with disabilities or language translation for diverse audiences.
RPS embraces AI
The most successful organisations in the AI era will be the most effective continuous learners delivering against business outcomes. For RPS, our strategy for embracing AI relies on three key factors – People, Process and Technology.
People
- Recognise early adopters and innovators who accelerate the use of these tools and techniques
- Develop a programme to upskill our people to provide them with the right skills
- Establish communities of practice to lead and share best practices and encourage experimentation without the need to re-invent the wheel.
- Allow embedded learning opportunities against business outcomes.
Process
- Establishing a process which facilitates the growth within a well understood and safe governance framework.
- Creating awareness of risks and investment decisions to C Suite / Board level and recognising ROI savings.
- An ability to scale from more commodity based GenAI like Co-Pilot to bespoke machine learning models within products.
Technology
- Continuous development and maturity of a data engineering capability to execute ML/AI at scale allowing our engineers and data scientists to focus on solving our clients’ problems.
- Documenting and delivering the right security and DevOps mechanisms to ensure all our AI delivers the right outcomes in a safe and secure way.
- Enhance our tools and practices to deliver the required quality checks.
RPS has a vast amount of AI tools already in practice. As we progress towards our collective goals, we look forward to unveiling the wide range of solutions available in our digital portfolio.
Raising Awareness
RPS has utilised a digital strategy that will collate various AI tools, in-house specialist digital solutions software and the latest in modern technology that can enhance and improve the work we do for clients.
Along with building a digital portfolio, RPS has been building and investing in opportunities to further enhance our understanding of AI and educate others about its capabilities. RPS held a workshop on AI for our colleagues at RPS Young to raise awareness and hold discussions around this exciting development.
RPS explored what AI is, its rising presence and its benefits. This eventually led the conversation to explore and understand how technology can make our work smarter, faster, and more efficient.
Our next steps
RPS is taking a series of salient measures to ensure progress in our goal to unlock the potential of AI. Whether it's asset management, building water models, or collating accurate data, AI can enhance the work that RPS does for clients and provide even more exceptional outcomes.
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