In 2023, the John Holland Group embarked on a pivotal trial of ChatGPT, which yielded convincing results regarding the integration of AI into its operations. This successful trial paved the way for the organization to participate in the early access program for Microsoft 365 Copilot.
The incorporation of AI tools has been reported to enhance productivity significantly, conserving an estimated 30 to 60 minutes per individual each day. This translates to a substantial time saving of up to 10 hours monthly.
The bespoke version of ChatGPT, developed in collaboration with Microsoft, has garnered a daily user base of 200 individuals, engaging in over 1000 interactions. These interactions primarily involve expediting the processes of writing and document summarization.
Owing to its growing popularity within the company, John Holland Group decided to join the Copilot for Microsoft 365 early access program in September 2023, securing 300 licenses for its use.
The initial deployment of Copilot was within the IT department of John Holland. However, it quickly gained traction across other departments including building, infrastructure, rail and transport, and major projects teams.
Microsoft revealed in a blog post that out of the total Copilot licenses acquired by John Holland, 260 have been activated. The remaining licenses are reserved for the company’s executives and senior leadership.
To ensure effective implementation, John Holland has also initiated training programs such as “scenario discovery sessions,” as stated by Gregory Koteras, the general manager of applications and emerging technologies.
The company is not only utilizing Copilot for internal purposes but is also exploring industry-specific applications. Bastian Uber, the chief digital and information officer at John Holland, mentioned that they are investigating ways to leverage Copilot in collaboration with engineering and design partners like GHD. The aim is to enhance environmental sustainability in designs by reducing reliance on materials like concrete and steel without compromising on structural integrity. Even a modest reduction of three percent could have a significant impact on reducing the carbon footprint across various assets.
Furthermore, as Copilot’s capabilities within Excel evolve, it could potentially streamline tender preparation processes by efficiently extracting data from spreadsheets used in previous bids. This advancement could lead to more efficient time and cost management in these operations.
