News in the Channel - issue #15

INGRAM MICRO

experiences. The key is to use AI to create value at scale and to identify use-cases that are relevant for industries. An example shared recently was a leading apparel retailer that is leveraging AI to automate responses to 65% of its customer inquiries, freeing skilled CSRs

to handle higher-value interactions. Another example is the use of AI by

distributors, including Ingram Micro. The use case ranges from speeding new customer and vendor onboarding and optimising their supply chain to managing discounts and rebates and improving marketing programs. One high- value use of AI by distributors is supporting push portals that learn from the data they take in to improve the recommendations provided and to offer better solutions to their customers. Together, working in concert with technology, distribution will continue to solve big challenges, drive new opportunities, spur new innovations and create exciting new experiences. Make the case for AI clear Is the use of AI helping? Yes. Studies show integrating AI leads to larger deals and more substantial outcomes. According to 6sense 3 , utilising AI doubles deal sizes and generates thousands of dollars in additional revenue for each opportunity pursued. Furthermore, AI implementation has demonstrated a remarkable 91.3% increase in deal velocity. As you start integrating AI into the mix, take measure of the time spent, saved and shared with others thinking forward about your businesses success and what’s driving decisions and innovations. The future is agile With the ongoing evolution of AI, forward- thinking businesses are directing their attention towards leveraging AI to generate and seize value on a large scale. We have moved beyond using AI simply for automation and are finding exciting new ways to use it to improve experiences for all of a business’s constituents. AI was then, is now and it will continue to be what is next. The real impact, the power, will be in the way humans innovate around AI.

Sanjib Sahoo is an award-winning global technology and business executive and the EVP, global technology and chief digital officer of Ingram Micro, a worldwide leader in technology distribution and the company behind today’s established and emerging technology brands. Sanjib has been involved in leading digital transformation in two different industries: financial services and transportation. He has won dozens of awards for his leadership, humanity and technology innovation including the prestigious 2023 Bharat Samman Award at the House of Lords for being a global technology and business icon, as well as being named to Fortune India’s 2023 “Unstoppables,” where Sanjib was named one of the World’s Most Influential Personalities and Business Minds. Sanjib joined Ingram Micro in 2021. He leads the global technology strategy and digitisation of Ingram Micro, which includes the company’s digital twin, Ingram Micro Xvantage™. He has responsibilities for global technology, digital platforms and digital operations, as well as the company’s product, data, engineering and digital marketing groups.

References [1] McKinsey “ The state of AI in 2023: generative AI’s breakout year ” https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/ quantumblack/our-insights/the-state-of-ai-in-2023-generative-ais-breakout-year [2] Constellation research – Enterprises seeing savings, productivity gains from generative AI https://www.constellationr.com/blog-news/insights/enterprises-seeing-savings-productivity-gains-generative-ai [3] 6sense “ 2023: Unlocking the Revenue Potential of AI for B2B ” https://6sense.com/research/ai-b2b-revenue-report/