What can businesses do differently because AI exists?
This question was at the heart of WITSIDE’s participation in the Data & AI Conference 2026, organised by BOUSSIAS on 21 September. Joining the conference for the third consecutive year, we connected with business and technology professionals to explore how organisations can translate Data & AI capabilities into meaningful business outcomes.
Our CEO, Christos Papadopoulos, contributed to the discussion with his presentation, “Data & AI Beyond Technology: From Implementation to Revolution”, examining the changes organisations need to make to realise AI’s potential.
From AI adoption to a different way of working
Introducing AI into an existing process can help teams complete tasks faster. Yet, its broader potential emerges when organisations reconsider the process itself: how work is organised, how responsibilities are shared and how decisions lead to action.
Our CEO explored this distinction through the history of electrification. The greatest gains came when businesses redesigned production around the possibilities of the new technology. AI presents a similar opportunity to rethink how an organisation operates.
For business leaders, this opens up a more ambitious conversation. Alongside identifying tasks to automate, they can ask which workflows, handovers and approval stages should change when new capabilities become available.
Connecting the right models with the right problems
The presentation also highlighted the breadth of AI beyond large language models.
Forecasting, prediction, optimisation and language-based interaction serve different business needs. Creating value requires selecting the right approach for each challenge and connecting data, specialist models and tools within an architecture that supports reliable decisions.
For organisations, this means grounding technology choices in a clear understanding of the business problem, the available data and the action that needs to follow.
Keeping human judgement at the centre
As AI changes how work gets done, people’s roles evolve too. Asking the right questions, evaluating outputs and taking responsibility for decisions become increasingly important.
Trust, transparency and governance are essential parts of this transition. They help organisations embed AI into everyday operations with clear expectations about how it should be used and who remains accountable.
From business problem to business impact
These ideas reflect WITSIDE’s approach to Business Intelligence, Data Management and Applied AI.
We begin by understanding the business objective, the processes involved and the needs of the people using the solution. We then identify opportunities for improvement, combine business knowledge with technical expertise and integrate solutions into the organisation’s operations.
The goal is to connect data, decisions and actions in ways that help people and businesses work better.
Thank you to everyone who visited our booth and exchanged ideas with our team, and to BOUSSIAS for bringing the Data & AI community together once again.
What could your organisation do differently with Data & AI?
Get in touch with our team to explore where to begin.
