Table of Contents
Key Takeaways:
- AI is transforming worker roles and the competencies required, therefore businesses need talent capable of collaborating with AI.
- Start AI adoption from business needs. Choose use cases that are clear, relevant, and have a measurable impact.
- AI can help businesses to operate more effectively while maintaining robust data security.
If AI can handle tasks previously done by humans, will businesses still need as many workers in the future as they do today?
This concern is understandable as AI becomes increasingly capable of automating routine tasks, particularly amid ongoing discussions about layoffs driven by efficiency efforts and the replacement of certain jobs by AI.
However, its impact on the workforce is not as simple as humans being replaced by technology. As some tasks begin to be handled by AI, a need also arises for talent capable of working side-by-side and collaborating with AI to generate a larger impact.
For businesses, this development is not only about adopting technology, but also about how work is performed, what skills are needed, and how talent is developed. Understanding the benefits of AI for business becomes an important part so that its implementation does not stop at just following technological trends.
So, how should businesses respond to this change? To answer it, we gathered insights from Ricky Hilmi (Product Marketing Manager DOKU), who works daily with AI applications in the payment industry.
The Plot Twist Behind the Data of 92 Million Replaced Jobs
Before looking further into how AI reshapes the workforce, there is one interesting piece of data to pay attention to. The World Economic Forum (WEF) projects that around 92 million jobs will be replaced up to 2030 due to various structural changes, including technological developments. This figure can indeed cause concern, especially when linked to the issue of layoffs and job automation.
However, the same report shows another side. As many as 170 million new jobs are projected to be created in that period. This means there is a potential net addition of about 78 million jobs.
That figure shows that technological development does not necessarily reduce the need for labor. Instead, the types of jobs and skills businesses need are also evolving.
According to Ricky Hilmi, the presence of AI promotes changes in workforce roles more than it eliminates jobs.
“In my view, the presence of AI changes workforce roles more than it eliminates jobs. Indeed, there are routine tasks that are starting to be automated. At the same time, however, there is a growing need for talent who can work alongside AI,” he said.
For business, this means the focus should not merely be on how many tasks can be automated, but also on how talent roles can be developed to complement AI capabilities.
Defining the Direction Before Adopting AI
If AI is becoming easier to access and the benefits of AI are starting to be seen in various business activities, why are many businesses still hesitant to adopt it?
According to Ricky, the challenge is not because business owners do not see the benefits of AI. Rather, the difficulty lies in determining how to apply AI in ways that are truly relevant to their business needs.
“What we encounter most often is not that business owners are unwilling to use AI, but that they are unsure where to start,” he said.
Today, access to technology is no longer the main challenge. Various AI tools can already help with work, starting from administrative tasks to processes requiring analysis. The challenge is identifying specific use cases that can deliver a clear Return on Investment (ROI) or measurable business impact.
Without measurable goals, AI adoption risks stopping at the experimentation stage, without a clear direction. Businesses also need to consider how data is used, managed, and protected once AI becomes part of their workflows.
Therefore, AI adoption should start with a concrete business need, rather than simply following technology trends.
When AI Becomes Part of Business Processes
AI is now starting to be used for broader functions, not just creating content or helping with administrative work. This technology can support various business processes and run certain tasks more independently.
“Now AI is becoming a coworker that can execute tasks in various business functions,” said Ricky.
Its applications are becoming increasingly diverse. Marketing teams can use AI for research and strategy development, product teams can use it to accelerate feature development, while operations teams can rely on AI to handle manual and repetitive tasks.
This shift marks a new way of viewing the role of AI in the workplace.
“AI is no longer just a passive tool that waits for instructions. It is becoming an active work partner that collaborates with teams to create a positive impact on the business,” Ricky emphasized.
In the payments industry, for example, AI can help detect suspicious transactions in real time, enabling faster decision-making. As its role expands, AI is becoming part of workflows that need to be designed to complement human capabilities, rather than operate separately from the team.
So, Where Should Businesses Start?
For businesses that want to start adopting AI, the starting point does not have to be the most advanced technology. Business needs can instead become the first guide.
“Start with the most tangible business needs rather than simply following the trend,” he said.
Businesses can first identify the processes that need the most improvement. If the challenge is transaction security, for example, AI can be used to support risk and fraud management. Meanwhile, if the team spends too much time on repetitive work, AI can be used to help automate those tasks.
This approach helps businesses ensure that AI implementation has a clear purpose and measurable impact, allowing its benefits to be realized in actual business processes.
“The key is to make AI a driver of productivity and a source of measurable business impact,” he added.
In addition to defining the right use cases, businesses also need to pay attention to date security and customer privacy. Choosing technology and service providers with clear security standards and compliance becomes an important part of that process.
It's very safe, as long as we choose technology providers that have clear security standards and regulations, and continue to prioritize data security and customer privacy,” Ricky explained.
Ultimately, the success of AI adoption is not determined by how quickly a business adopts the technology, but by how effectively the technology addresses its business needs.
What Is DOKU’s Role in This Shift?
The evolving landscape of working alongside AI is driving technological progress across the payments industry. As a payment fintech company, DOKU utilizes AI to support internal processes while developing solutions that can help businesses meet growing payment needs.
“The foundation, of course, is security. We leverage AI for risk & fraud management to keep merchant transaction approval rates high,” said Ricky.
This use of AI has since expanded into broader areas. DOKU ecourages businesses not only to use AI, but also to build with AI based on their specific needs and busineess processes.
To support this development, DOKU offers the Agent Toolkit, which helps developers integrate payment systems with AI-Powered applications and technologies. DOKU also provided an MCP Server that enables AI Agents to connect with DOKU's payment infrastructure, opening opportunities for checkout and payment processes to be carried out through AI Agents.
In practice, security and transaction controls remain essential to ensure that payment innovation continues to align with the needs of businesses and customers.
“So, DOKU is not only keeping transactions secure, but also providing tools that enable businesses to grow and deliver the best possible payment experience for their customers,” Ricky concluded.
It’s Time for Businesses to Adapt to AI
Ultimately, the presence of AI brings business to one important shift: the way we define work and productivity also changes. Work that previously required human time and labor can be handled by technology, while humans can allocate their capacity to work requiring consideration, creativity, and decision-making.
For business leaders, this transition is not something to wait on until it becomes an urgent necessity. The earlier businesses understand how AI can work alongside their teams, the greater the opportunity to utilize AI properly and get relevant AI benefits for business development.
