Six AI Order Management Myths Debunked

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Intelligent order processing. AI order processing. Sales order automation. LLMs. OCR. Automated order management…

These terms may sound like a jumbled mess to some, but they all refer to the same thing - software that automates the process of managing orders. AI tools use advanced technologies like LLMs to streamline and optimize the order management process with minimal or no human intervention. Manual data entry, updating ERP /CRM systems, verifying information, and other repetitive tasks that take up valuable time can be automated to improve efficiency, accuracy, and speed.

AI is like a virtual assistant that handles the tedious parts of order management and allows your team to focus on more value-added tasks. Despite its buzzworthy appeal, many businesses are struggling to separate the truth from the tales surrounding AI order management. This leads to missed opportunities for growth and wasted investment in subpar solutions that promise the world but fail to deliver.

In this blog post, we'll clear up the confusion and debunk six common myths about AI order management. By the end, you'll have a behind-the-scenes look at what these tools can really do for your business and be equipped to make informed decisions based on facts, not on fiction.

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Debunking Six AI Order Management Myths

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Image credit: Fullvector

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AI in order management is often touted as the next big thing in business automation, but it's surrounded by a fog of misconceptions. Let's sift through the hype and clear up the top AI order management myths so you can harness its real power without being misled by smoke and mirrors.

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1. 100% Accuracy is Guaranteed

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A high-stakes promise. And one that's often not true.

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While artificial intelligence (AI) can be incredibly precise and efficient, its accuracy depends heavily on the specific task and measure being performed. For example, using AI for pure data extraction through techniques such as LLM's visual capabilities or optical character recognition (OCR) is often easier than verifying the correctness of the extracted data. Similarly, matching products from a sales order to an ERP product database without a product ID can be a challenging task for AI systems. A good AI solution will understand the specific business problem it is meant to solve and find ways to address any challenges that may arise.

Also, keep in mind that AI is only as good as the data it is trained on and the conditions it operates in. Just like humans, AI algorithms require training and continuous feedback to improve and adapt. If the data used to train AI models is outdated, biased, or incomplete, the results will not be 100% accurate. And if the conditions or inputs change, the AI may struggle to keep up. In one word, AI is not infallible or 100% perfect.

When evaluating AI solutions, it's important to look beyond flashy marketing claims and dig into the nitty-gritty details of how the AI works, what data it uses, and how it handles different scenarios.  If a vendor claims 100% accuracy but cannot back it up with concrete evidence or real-world examples, it's just smoke and mirrors show. Look for an AI software provider that focuses on real results, like cost savings, improved efficiency, and productivity. And don't just take their word for it. Ask for a test/proof of concept to see the results for yourself. This way, you can make an informed decision based on facts and actual performance, not just bold promises.

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2. AI Is Just for the Giants of Business

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Not quite accurate!. 

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One of the most pervasive myths about AI order management is that it's only for big businesses with deep pockets. While it's true that large businesses buried under paperwork, manual data entry, and repetitive tasks can benefit greatly from AI, the technology is not exclusive to them. In fact, many people also believe that AI requires vast amounts of data to train, which supposedly limits its use to larger organizations. However, with modern and state-of-the-art AI solutions, the models are pre-trained, so even small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can adopt these technologies without needing a huge amount of data. In reality, the size of the business doesn't matter.

The decision to implement an AI system has more to do with your current order management pain points and future growth plans than your business size. Automating manual tasks like order entry, data verification, ERP / CRM system data updates, compliance management, etc., can benefit businesses of any size. By freeing up employees from tedious tasks, they can focus on strategic initiatives and more value-added work.

Plus, with AI's scalability and adaptability, it can grow alongside your business. That's why we've designed our AI solution to be fully scalable and customizable for businesses of any size. turian can handle orders in any volume, adapt to changing conditions, and scale up or down as your business grows. Our flexible pricing allows for affordable AI solutions even for smaller players. 

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3. Your Supply Chain and Sales Team will Have to Constantly Correct AI Systems

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Only if you're using an outdated solution.

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If you need constant time and effort from your team for data extraction, classification, and other manual tasks despite using an AI system, you've been handed a lemon. AI systems should make your team's work easier, not create extra work for them. The main goal of AI in order management is to automate tedious, time-eating tasks and free up your team's valuable time for more strategic activities. A good AI solution can handle messy, unstructured data from various sources ( like email-free texts, PDFs, or Word files), extract relevant data points, and enter them into your core systems (ERP/CRM) without any manual input from your team. It can identify patterns and anomalies in your orders, providing valuable insights and helping you make better and data-driven decisions.

However, if you're using an outdated AI solution that requires extensive manual input and adjustments, then yes, your team will have to constantly guide the AI system. With outdated solutions like old-school OCR, your team will need to go the extra mile to train the system, manually label data points, and continuously adjust it for every new document format or layout. Now, this not only wastes your team's time and effort but also leaves room for human error and biases in the data. So, if you don't want your team bogged down by AI systems, make sure you choose a solution that is designed to make their work faster and easier, not harder.

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4. OCR is the same as AI-Based Order Management

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Not really..

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Optical Character Recognition (or, in short, OCR) technology has been around for a while now, and it's often mistaken as the same thing as AI order management. But in reality, they are two entirely different things. Sure, they both have something to do with text and data, but that's where the similarities end. First of all, let's clear up what OCR actually does.

OCR technology helps convert physical documents like papers, PDFs, or images into digital and searchable data. It's like taking a photo of your handwritten notes and turning it into a text document that you can edit and search through on your computer. Pretty good, right? But here's the thing - OCR can only deal with simple tasks like extracting text from images or digitizing paper documents. It doesn't understand context or meaning, so it's limited in its capabilities. And what's worse, every time you need to process a different document format, you'll have to tweak and train your classical OCR software all over again.

On the other hand, holistic AI-based software solutions, like turian, go way beyond OCR. They use advanced large language models (LLMs) to understand the meaning and context of data. LLMs can handle any data type, be it structured or unstructured, and can perform complex tasks like drafting emails, analyzing customer feedback, generating reports, and more. Plus, they don't need training data or manual adjustments and can handle any document format, whether it's email-free texts, Excel sheets, PDFs, Word files, or images. So, while OCR is a useful tool, it's not enough to manage all the complex processes of order management.

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5. AI Solutions Are Difficult to Integrate

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If you have to do it yourself. 

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Integrating AI solutions with your existing core systems can be a difficult job, especially if you're handling everything in-house. It often requires specialized skills and expertise that not every business has readily available. If you don't want to deal with this techie side of AI, you can outsource this task to companies like Turiain that specialize in doing this kind of work.

By doing so, you can save time and resources while ensuring that the integration process is smooth and seamless. Moreover, most modern ERP/CRM systems have APIs (Application Programming Interfaces), and good AI solutions can easily connect with them to ensure smooth data flow and integration. And if your systems don't have APIs, there are other methods, like electronic data interchange (EDI), that can still make integration possible.

By bringing in experts to handle the integration process, you can focus on the bigger picture while they take care of the technical details. This approach not only saves you time and effort but also ensures that the AI system is set up correctly and effectively for your business needs.

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6. AI Will Replace Human Workers

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A common fear, but not nuanced.

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Artificial intelligence (AI) will completely replace humans. Machines will rule the world. Well, the idea may sound like a sci-fi movie plot, but for many, this fear is real. However, at least in the near future (and our lifetimes),  AI is not here to take over human jobs or replace human workers. It's here to assist and enhance human capabilities, making complex tasks easier, faster, and more accurate - so that companies can use people’s talents for more complex tasks

Yes, AI can automate manual and repetitive tasks like data entry, validation, quote generation, etc., but that doesn't mean it will make human workers obsolete. In fact, AI can help reduce human error, improve efficiency, and free up employees' time for more critical and creative tasks.

It allows your sales or supply chain team to focus on higher-value work that requires human skills like problem-solving, decision-making, and customer interaction. It's a tool not meant to replace but to empower humans in the workplace. These intelligent machines work only best when used alongside human intelligence (like our “human-in-the-loop” principle), creating a symbiotic relationship that drives business growth and success.

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Beyond the Hype: Streamline Your Order Management with turian

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Image credit: Freepik

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We at turian don't promise the moon and the stars. We don't claim that our technology will replace your entire workforce or magically make all your order management problems disappear. What we offer is something different, something real. Our AI-driven solutions are designed to work seamlessly with your existing processes and systems, enhancing efficiency and accuracy without disrupting your daily operations.

turian combines cutting-edge AI algorithms, including LLMs, but we know that it's not enough; that's why we've built several layers of proprietary technology on top of it to ensure unparalleled accuracy, speed, and efficiency. With turian, you don't have to worry about the quality of your data. Our AI system can handle messy, unstructured data from various sources, such as emails, PDFs, Word and Excel files, and images. It can identify relevant data points on its own and process them for optimal results. Depending on the task (like data extraction), our AI assistants can achieve an accuracy rate of up to 99%. turian can be seamlessly integrated into your existing ERP/CRP systems and email clients (like Outlook and Gmail) to automate manual tasks, such as processing sales orders. Whether it is purchase order management, sales order entry, compliance management, contract and document analysis, or other admin tasks related to supply chain and sales service operations, turian can streamline and expedite them all, saving you time, effort, and resources.

But don't just take our word for it. We're so confident in our solutions that we offer a Proof of Concept (PoC) at no cost to you. You can see for yourself how our AI models work with your specific data and processes without any obligations or strings attached. And, if you still have any doubts or questions, our team of experts is always available to provide support and guidance during the ramp-up phase and beyond.

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