Ricoh UK has weighed in on the current conversations taking place in government and businesses regarding productivity and innovation, especially regarding AI technology.
- reported on print monthly.co.uk
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt emphasizes the need for combining the UK's startup culture with the productivity of Germany and the US to enhance overall performance.
Hunt notes a 15% productivity gap with Germany, attributing it to Germany's higher investment in plant and machinery per worker.
Simon Isaacs, national sales director for Ricoh UK, points out the UK's lag in tech adoption as a key factor contributing to business challenges.
ONS findings reveal that 85% of UK businesses were not utilizing AI in December 2023, and 83% had no immediate plans to adopt AI in the near future.
Despite hosting the AI Safety Summit in November 2023 to position the UK as an AI innovation leader, the adoption gap raises doubts about the pace of integration.
Ricoh Europe research shows a misalignment between employee expectations of workplace technology and the actual technological provisions by employers.
In the printing industry, 77% express the desire to automate for efficiency, but 52% still operate on legacy or manual systems, highlighting a significant automation gap.
Isaacs emphasizes the importance of listening to employees' calls for innovation to boost productivity, stating that neglecting technology investment risks decreased productivity and growth hindrance.