Harnessing AI in project management: How to maximise impact and increase efficiency

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly becoming a pivotal tool in numerous industries, and project management is no exception. AI offers the potential to transform the landscape of project management, making operations more efficient, reducing errors, and providing insights that were previously unattainable through conventional methods.

In our recent webinar, ‘How to harness AI in project management and maximise its impact’, we ran a quick poll, which found that just under 7% of viewers were very confident using AI, with the majority of people feeling unsure (52%) or slightly confident (41%) about using AI in their work.

However, according to our 2024 research report, 77% of organisations say AI is the most in-demand skill for their business. This shows that developing these AI skills and boosting AI confidence is not only sought after but also offers many advantages.

The role of AI in project management

Currently, the primary functions of AI in project management are to automate repetitive tasks, enhance decision-making through data analysis, and improve communication across distributed teams. Here are some key applications:

Task automation

AI can automate routine tasks such as scheduling, updating project statuses, and generating reports. This not only speeds up processes but gives project managers time to focus on more complex, strategic activities.

Advanced data analysis

Using AI, project managers can gain deeper insights into project trends, identify risks, and predict project outcomes. AI has the potential to analyse vast amounts of data, identifying patterns that would typically elude human analysis, offering predictive insights that can help make proactive decisions.

Enhancing collaboration

AI tools can facilitate better collaboration among globally distributed teams. Features such as real-time updates, language translation, and meeting summarisation ensure that all team members are on the same page, regardless of their physical location.

Benefits of using AI in project management

Increased efficiency

By automating routine tasks, AI reduces the time spent on administrative duties, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing the likelihood of human error. This is currently the biggest focus for AI, with 70% of usage centred on automating repetitive project management tasks.

AI can create meeting minutes, summarise discussions, and generate reports, all of which can save project managers a great deal of time, allowin