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An AI Journey Into Search

Esmeé Vermolen, Senior Partner, Head of Technology, Finance and Governance Oct 01, 2024

Three years ago, Granger Reis was at a technological inflection point.

The executive search market, traditionally reliant on the 'black book' method, was ripe for innovation.

Traditional methods, while effective, were limited by their scope and reach.

Recognising the potential of innovative technology, we embarked on a journey to revolutionise our industry. By integrating advanced AI capabilities, we aimed to enhance our search processes and deliver unparalleled value to our clients.

It's important to note that while technology like Kaiya is a powerful tool, it serves to augment the expertise and insights of our exceptional team. But what does that actually mean for our business?

Well, here are four key things we have learned in a year of being the very first adopters of breakthrough tech Kaiya.ai...

1. Diversity of thought wins:

The integration of AI has fostered a more collaborative environment within our team.

By openly challenging and discussing the use of this technology, we have explored new and unseen areas of AI in a connected and robust manner.

This transparency has not only pushed us forward but also helped us deliver on our B Corp commitments while broadening diversity of thought across our business.

2. Giving the AI a ‘face’ HELPS:

In an industry where human interaction is paramount, giving the AI a 'face' has proven beneficial.

Kaiya.ai integrates into our communication channels as a virtual colleague with a fully-fledged profile – check it here.

This persona has facilitated a smoother transition and greater acceptance within our organisation, allowing us to focus our human capital on higher-value activities.

3. Time really equals money … and extra creativity:

The integration of Kaiya.ai has significantly improved our efficiency.

Beyond its capabilities in data capture, analysis, and extrapolation, future developments will enable Kaiya to handle even more time-consuming administrative tasks.

This has not only enhanced our problem-solving abilities but also increased our win rate, proving its value in our operations.

4. Confidentiality is everything

Unlike general tools like ChatGPT, Kaiya operates within a secure environment, ensuring that all data remains confidential and isolated from the outside world.

This focus on data privacy is crucial for maintaining trust and integrity in our industry.

Having our own licenced specialist AI is an absolute game changer on this front.

The ‘final frontier’ is still ahead

The journey with Kaiya.ai is far from over. There is still much to learn and develop, but the collaboration between Kaiya.ai and Granger Reis exemplifies how AI can revolutionise traditional industries. This blog provides an overview of our initial findings, and I will delve deeper into these topics in future posts.

Stay tuned for more insights and follow me for updates.