The Association of Outsourcing Professionals of Nigeria (AOPN) said integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into operations can significantly enhance an organisation’s competitive edge in the outsourcing market.
Noting that investing in advanced AI technologies was essential for organisations aiming to stay ahead in the industry, the association said continuous adaptation to market changes through AI solutions was crucial for maintaining a competitive position.
Executive Director, Human Resources/Corporate Services, Total Energy Marketing Nigeria Plc, Bunmi Popoola Mordi, said this at this year’s AOPN outsourcing expo, in Lagos, where she spoke on the theme ‘Outsourcing, AI and The Digital Economy: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities’.
While she spoke on the opportunities and benefits of leveraging AI, she, however, urged that businesses must implement ethical practices that prioritise transparency, fairness, integrity and building trust with stakeholders.
Advocating that members must be architects of a better digital future, she added that businesses that dedicate resources to educating their employees about advanced work tasks, combined with AI technology, would preserve their market dominance.
Similarly, AOPN President, Mope Abudu, noted that the expo was to showcase how outsourcing through the use of AI could help ease their work and deliver quality services to their clientele.
She urged all providers of outsourcing to research beyond just talent and to improve the game of their businesses with the use of emerging technologies.
“It is extremely important how outsourcing professionals can provide quality service and value that goes beyond just automation, as well as looking towards being very proactive about how the future of work is going to play out,” she said.
During one of the panels, CTO, SeamlessHR, Deji Lana, said Nigeria’s outsourcing potential was vast but under-leveraged.
Making a call to action to outsourcing providers, employers, and policy and ecosystem actors, he urged them on the need to adopt automation, use outsourcing to scale without burnout, and push for broadband in secondary cities.
General Manager, Operations, Philips Outsourcing Ltd, Felicia Ebhohimen, called for oversight functions of HR practices and leadership commitment, saying Nigeria must be intentional in creating an AI-friendly environment.
She said AI should be integrated into the culture of organisations and businesses to build trust in the industry.
Giving an instance where the European Union (EU) passed the Outsourcing law in 2024 with effective implementation by 2026, she said if Nigeria must be an AI outsourcing hub, it must be intentional, with a push from those in the sector who are ready to storm the National Assembly and lend their voices for passage of the outsourcing bill.
