AI-driven productivity is the future, declare experts at CIPM HR Conference
View(s):The future of productivity is not just digital – it is decisively AI-driven. This was the message from a panel of industry leaders at the “Discover the Future of Productivity Through Digital Transformation” session, an event of the International HR Conference organised by CIPM Sri Lanka on June 3 at the Monarch Imperial.
The discussion, which delved into the complexities and opportunities of navigating digital transformation, brought together a panel of experts including Conrad Dias, Director of LOLC Holdings and Chairman of LOLC Finance; Romesh Ranawana, Group Chief Analytics and AI Officer at Dialog Axiata; and Prasanth Nair, Chief HR Officer of Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals. The session was moderated by Oshana Dias, Chief People Officer at Fortude.
From Left to Right:Conrad Dias, Romesh Ranawana, Prasanth Nair, Oshana Dias
The digital imperative: no longer an option
Conrad Dias made the case for the urgency of digital adoption: “Whether you’re a country or an organisation, digital is not optional anymore. It’s a national imperative.” He cited data from the World Economic Forum, revealing that digitally mature organisations outperform their peers by 45% in revenue growth.
He cautioned against a one-size-fits-all approach: “Transformation must be contextual.” “LOLC operates in sectors from finance to plantations to leisure – each with different levels of digital adoption. You have to understand your digital maturity first. Otherwise, you’re just ticking boxes.”
He highlighted how even traditional sectors like plantations are reaping benefits from digitisation. “We’re the world’s largest tea producer under Browns. The next generation doesn’t want to work the way their parents did — so we need to bring technology to the field. Mechanisation, digitisation — it’s not just an option. It’s a must.”
Dias also dismantled the myth of high implementation costs being a barrier. “Technology has been both democratised and demonetised,” he explained. “AI tools that once cost thousands of dollars are now available at $20 a month. If someone tells you capex is a barrier today, that’s outdated thinking.”
The rise of the personal ai partner
Romesh Ranawana framed the current AI boom as the second great technological revolution in workplace productivity, comparable to the personal computing wave of the late 20th century. “We’re entering a phase where every employee is expected to work with AI,” he said.
Ranawana identified four key domains where AI is already making a measurable impact:
- Personal productivity: Assisting with everything from managing schedules to summarising complex reports.
- Work-specific tasks: Powering sophisticated functions like customer analytics and automated proposal generation.
- Team collaboration: Breaking down organisational silos and enhancing cross-departmental coordination.
- Enterprise efficiency: Optimising large-scale operations and enabling data-driven strategic decision-making.
He offered an analogy to illustrate the challenge of adoption. “Imagine giving someone a $100,000 piano who doesn’t know how to play. That’s what many companies are doing with AI,” he cautioned. “The tool is powerful, but without training and the right culture, it’s underused—or misused.” Ranawana stressed that, just as they did with the rise of computers, HR professionals must once again lead the charge in fostering digital and AI literacy.
Beyond technology: The human layer of leadership
Prasanth Nair shifted the focus to the often-overlooked pillars of success: leadership and culture. “It’s the most studied area in organisational behaviour, and yet the number one reason cited for failed transformation is still leadership,” he stated.
Nair issued a warning against viewing AI as a passive tool. He compared its unchecked power to the mythical figure Bhasmasura, who was granted the power to turn anyone to ash and inadvertently destroyed himself. “AI is an agent — it can produce outcomes its creators may not even anticipate,” he urged, highlighting the need for strong governance.
To guide HR leaders, Nair proposed a three-part model for building a future-ready organisation, encapsulated by the acronym “AIE”:
Anti-fragile Culture: Moving beyond mere resilience to building organisations that thrive and grow stronger through adversity.
Innovation at Scale: Weaving innovation deep into every layer of the organisation, making it a universal responsibility.
Energy: Cultivating and maintaining momentum through a positive, purpose-driven, and engaging workplace.
“Think of AIE,” he concluded, “as Artificial Intelligence for Employees—a balanced, human-centric approach to AI adoption.”
A human-powered, tech-driven future
While technology possesses transformative potential, it cannot replace the human elements of strategic decision-making, empathy, and visionary leadership. As moderator Dias summarised, “The future of productivity is not just digital — it’s deeply human, powered by technology but steered by people.”
A live poll conducted during the session revealed that the majority of attendees see digital transformation in their organisations as “in progress.” This, panelists agreed, was encouraging — but also a signal that transformation is not a one-time event. It is a continuous journey requiring agility, cross-functional collaboration, and a redefinition of leadership.
Dias wrapped up the session on an optimistic note, highlighting that while technology may set the pace, people will always set the direction. The takeaway was clear: productivity in the digital age is not just about machines — it’s about mindset, methods, and above all, meaning.
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