Artificial intelligence is shaping the way business operate, transitioning from future vision to a present-day reality. At the forefront of this shift is OPI, our AI-Powered virtual coach. Designed to empower Operation Managers, OPI helps them make smarter, faster decisions, right when they need them.
In this interview, Elliott Tiernan, Product Director at ActiveOps, shares his insight on how OPI is redefining workforce decision-making, the challenges of AI adoption and what the future holds for AI-driven operations.
How AI is transforming operations
ActiveOps: Elliott, AI is transforming industries across the board and operations is no exception. How do you see this transformation unfolding in ActiveOps?
Elliott: It’s exciting because AI is no longer just a buzzword – it’s something that’s actively shaping how we approach operations. For our customers, AI is about unlocking smarter decision-making in real time. Businesses today need the agility to make decisions faster and with great precision. That’s where AI-driven insights comes in – they help Operation Managers act faster and with confidence when things are constantly changing.
What makes OPI different?
AO: And that brings us to OPI. What makes OPI different from other AI assistants out there?
ET: What sets OPI apart is that it’s not just an assistant that throws insights at you. OPI is your virtual coach – designed specifically to help operations managers make real-time, data driven decisions. It’s embedded within ControliQ, which means it analyzes operational data and gives tailored, actionable recommendations. And the best part? OPI is powered by ActiveOps’ 20 years of expertise in operational data and the AOM methodology, ensuring the insights and suggestions it gives are both useful and relevant. It’s about helping managers allocate resources effectively, maintain productivity and proactively tackle challenges head-on.
OPIs Insights and the Human Touch
AO: AI can often feel like a black box. How do you ensure that OPI’s insights feel like an extension of a leaders own judgement, rather than just an automated suggestion?
ET: That’s a great question. The key difference with OPI is that it doesn’t just offer blind suggestions—it’s built to provide tailored, actionable insights based on your current data. OPI’s ability to provide contextual recommendations means that its insights are always relevant to your current situation. It doesn’t make decisions for you, but it does extend your decision-making by giving you real-time, relevant recommendations you can trust.
In the future, we envision OPI being able to taken on some repetitive tasks in ControliQ that take up the manager’s time. OPIs job is to give managers the time and space to use their expertise in driving performance, supporting their people and optimizing operations. It’s about working alongside leaders, not replacing them.
What’s next for OPI?
AO: It sounds like OPI is just getting started. What does the future hold?
ET: We’re just scratching the surface. Right now, we’re working on OPI’s ability to help managers identify trends and opportunities across the operation and feed them into Executive Insights dashboard. We’ll also introduce proactive suggestions for improvement and variance analysis in the Control Report. Managers will be able to rely on OPI to help balance workloads, adjust staffing and prevent shortfalls or surpluses.
Looking further down the road, think of OPI as a cross between a virtual PA and an Operations Management Coach—helping leaders optimize workflows, plan strategically and even automate repetitive decisions.
In the future, OPI will learn your personal style, preferences and priorities, moving from a tool you use to a tool that works for you. Imagine asking OPI how to boost productivity by 10% next year while maintaining employee wellbeing and service levels. What if OPI could anticipate a skills shortage six months in advance and help you act now? That’s where we’re heading.
OPI: A Game Changer for Operations
AO: That’s a transformational shift! What should business leaders take away from this?
ET: OPI is redefining the way operations work. We’re pushing the boundaries of AI while keeping it grounded in pragmatic decision-making. Our goal is to provide a tool that’s not just powerful, but useful and reliable. With OPI, customers can make decisions faster, be more agile in responding to changes, and feel more empowered in their roles. It’s all about informed decision-making and smarter operations.
AO: Thanks for sharing your insights, Elliott! We’re excited to see how OPI evolves, and we can’t wait to see how it helps our customers.
ET: My pleasure!
The future of operations is here—and it’s powered by AI
To learn more about OPI and how it can enhance your operations, reach out to us today. Together, let’s shape the future of smarter workforce decision-making.
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