What Does Artificial Intelligence Bring To Business Software?

When one hears the term "artificial intelligence" or AI, the mind goes quickly to robots and talking computers that will one day take over the world. That's great for Hollywood, and there is applicability in manufacturing and other areas of business where intelligent machines or robots can effectively automate what were once manual processes. But when it comes to the business software we use every day at work, the application is slightly less daunting but equally as powerful. As a software salesman for over 30 years, I'm constantly crafting my elevator pitch, which is a statement that describes what my product can do in two minutes or less. The best description for business or ERP (enterprise resource planning) software is that of an application that can efficiently automate manual processes.