From the automation of tasks to the analysis of data, AI is proving itself a catalyst for business transformation. Yet, many leaders still ask: Where can AI actually deliver results? Are the benefits of AI worth the investment?

In this article, we explore practical, proven AI use cases across finance, HR, marketing, and supply chain operations that show how it’s driving measurable impact. You’ll see how AI can help employees make better decisions, streamline operations, and unlock new revenue streams.

The AI use cases below are a few examples of the AI line of business solutions that many organizations are implementing—and getting value from—today. If you’re interested in a deeper dive into AI use cases and the SAP technologies that make them possible, read our e-book, AI in Action: Practical use cases for real business results.

The benefits of AI in business

For executives focused on productivity, efficiency, and innovation, the benefits of AI in business are clear: It helps organizations operate smarter, adapt faster, and compete more effectively in an increasingly complex market.

Across industries, enterprises are realizing gains in five core areas:

• Productivity and efficiency: Automating repetitive, manual tasks (like data entry) to free up human talent for higher-value work.
• Decision accuracy and speed: Applying real-time data, advanced analytics, and predictive models empowers employees to act confidently.
• Customer experience: Delivering personalized, timely, relevant interactions that build customer loyalty.
• Innovation and growth: Uncovering hidden insights that can lead to the development of new business models, products, and services.
• Resilience and agility: Enabling organizations to respond rapidly to market changes, supply chain disruptions, or shifts in customer demand.

The AI use cases that follow illustrate where these benefits are making the most impact.

AI in finance

Finance teams use AI to automate manual, repetitive processes and inform decision-making.

Automating payment matching: A historically time-consuming task that is susceptible to errors, which can lead to delayed closing and strained cash flow. AI can accurately reconcile invoices with the corresponding internal documents before authorizing payment. It does this by analyzing historical data and applying pattern recognition to remittance behavior.

With over 7,000 clients across 120 countries, this was vital for Accenture. Before they started using SAP Cash Application software to match invoices, they were handling 250,000 entries manually. Afterwards, they were able to automate the process with more accuracy, with 54% of invoices automatically clearing.

Predicting late payments: By using AI to analyze historical patterns and customer behavior, finance teams can detect early warning signs of late payments, enabling them to take a more proactive approach to managing liquidity and investment timing.

Best of all, every user can access these insights with natural language prompts—and without the help and technical skills of analysts. With accessible answers, finance teams can act faster and with more confidence.

AI in human resources

AI is streamlining how HR departments recruit, interview, and hire talent that best fit the goals of their broader organizations.

Generating job descriptions: Attract top talent with compelling and inclusive job descriptions. One of the main benefits of AI is that it can generate high-quality writing with speed and consistency at scale, with less bias and vagueness.

Screening candidates: AI tools can accurately highlight candidates that best fit the position. This saves recruiters the time-consuming burden of scanning through hundreds of resumes and prevents high-potential applicants from being undiscovered.

By adopting SAP SuccessFactors, Frit Ravich, a distributor of chips, snacks, and nuts exporting to 27 countries, could make it easier for candidates to apply and for recruiters to match them to open positions.

Smarter performance management: For employees who are already onboard, AI can suggest goals that support their personal growth and their team's priorities. This alignment encourages employees to stay engaged in their roles and invested in their organization.

American Honda uses this approach to close the talent gap: the skills they need versus the skills their workforce can have.

AI in customer experiences

Like finance and HR functions, marketing and commerce teams are reaping the benefits of AI by using it to automate manual tasks and uncover hidden insights in their data.

Forecasting customer behavior: AI can analyze engagement patterns, browsing behavior, purchase history, and other intent signals to highlight leads with the highest potential to convert. This enables marketing teams to target them with timely and relevant campaigns.

Product content creation: By drawing on structured data like specs, features, and pricing, AI can generate accurate descriptions of products. They can even ensure that content aligns to audience preferences and SEO strategies. Marketing teams can focus instead on shaping brand-building and other higher-level storytelling efforts.

Sales order entry: When a customer finally decides to buy, AI can automate the capture the order data from e-mails and scanned documents and consolidate it all in one place. Free from the manual, repetitive, and error-prone burden of data entry, sales teams can concentrate on nurturing new customer relationships.

Optimizing customer service: AI agents can work in tandem with human customer service teams to deliver faster responses, better first-time resolution rates, and more consistent service quality.

For example, Bosch Power Tools uses AI agents to analyze the content and context of each of the millions of customer service tickets they receive per year and directs them to the appropriate team for help. Not only does this approach save thousands of hours annually—it reduces costs significantly.

AI in supply chains

From geopolitical uncertainties to trade restrictions, supply chain leaders face more challenges than ever. AI is helping them anticipate disruption and detect discrepancies to maintain continuity of service.

• Spotting supply chain risks early
  Every second counts when it comes to mitigating disruption. AI can monitor logistics, inventory, and operations data to detect anomalies before they lead to costly delays.
  
  By embedding AI in planning, Microsoft substantially reduced finished goods inventory and proactively mitigated inventory risks in its global hardware business, transforming their reactive supply chain into a real-time, predictive model.
• Anticipating demand with accuracy
  AI-assisted forecasting uses machine learning to adjust to changing market conditions in real-time, enabling decision-makers to prevent shortages or overstock.
• Processing goods receipts faster
  When goods arrive at the port, processing delays can ripple through the supply chain. AI tools can streamline this process by scanning and matching receipts quickly and accurately.

How to implement AI in business operations

The potential of AI in business is clear. The path to actually implementing it is much less so.

Implementing AI in business asks for readiness in your workforce, alignment with business needs, and setting measurable goals.

These are all vital elements—and we have a guide to help you define them.

Read our e-book, The Path to AI Implementation, to learn how to bring the benefits of AI to your organization.

From evaluating initial readiness to measuring success, the steps outlined in this guide are designed to help you move forward with confidence and toward measurable results.

Get the full story

These AI use cases make one thing clear: AI isn’t just a tool—it’s a game changer. Finance teams are using it to navigate complexity and uncertainty with agility. HR departments are using it to attract and retain talent. Marketers are using it to handle lower-level work so they can focus on higher-level strategy. And supply chain leaders are using become more proactive planners.

If you're ready to bring the benefits of AI to your organization—or want to learn about more AI use cases in sales and procurement, download our AI in Action: Practical Use Cases for Real Business Results e-book. It’s a must-read for business leaders looking to unlock AI’s full potential.

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