SCOTTSDALE, AZ — A recent pulse survey by the American Bakers Association (ABA) showed that about 70% of the commercial baking industry has either adopted or plans to adopt some form of AI in the next 12 months.
While many bakers are ready to take on this technology, it can be difficult for company leaders to know where to start. Experts on the Baking in an AI World: Incorporating Emerging Technology to Optimize Operations panel at the 2024 ABA Convention, held April 14-17 in Scottsdale, AZ, offered some beginner guidance.
Eric Dell, president and CEO of ABA, moderated the panel, which included Gregory Powers, VP of cool stuff at Gray Solutions; Murray Thom, VP of quantum technology evangelism at D-Wave; Marco Petruccelli, VP, CIO and CTO of Lallemand; and Natalia Connolly, senior VP of digital, AI and data at AlixPartners.
As a first step, the panelists suggested that businesses in the commercial baking industry examine in-depth the challenges they’re facing. For example, perhaps there’s a lack of efficiency, high workforce turnover or confusion about datasets. Only then can they discover how AI can be useful in their procedures — and when it won’t improve their processes.
“You need to look at a business case,” Powers said. “What are you trying to solve? What are the problems that you have?”
The implementation of or evolution of a data culture should follow this analysis.
“If you haven’t already, clean up your data,” Petruccelli advised. “Make sure it’s tangible, healthy and readable in a similar format to be able to be leveraged in a more appropriate fashion.”
From there, it’s all about getting people involved. Petruccelli suggested AI discussions and implementations be business-led, meaning they shouldn’t be left to the IT department. Rather, all types of expert partners and employees will need to be informed and upskilled — from legal to risk departments — and an education program should be created for all levels of the organization.
With everyone prepped for the introduction of AI into the business, it’s time to research and adopt it. This is one of the most intimidating steps, but Powers offered a solution for companies wanting to move at a slower pace to get to know the technology.
“Start off with a small business case,” he said. “Just make it a simple little process. POCs [proofs of concepts], are a great way to learn stuff. It’s not as scary, and you’re not spending a lot of money, so it’s a great approach.”
By putting in the work and time before implementing emerging technology, baking companies can create a firm foundation for more advanced AI processes and provide a feeling of confidence among their teams.
