How Searce is tapping into the full potential of AI

Searce is gearing up to harness the full potential of AI, with the technology consulting firm investing into data infrastructure, establishing strong partnerships and fostering intelligent outcomes with data-driven decision-making.

This is a sentiment shared both by the firm’s SVP of data, analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) Patrick Bangert and senior cloud consultant Andrew Kirk.

“We train our staff in data analytics and AI from the basics to expert level as well as in the art and science of management in-house with our own training courses and instructors,” Bangert said. “Searce hires fresh graduates in significant numbers and enables them to be experienced experts within two years, so that we can smooth the data transformation process for our clients.”

Operational data in particular is one area that clients need to pay close attention to, as Bangert notes that certain data areas are locked into place across systems, processes and tools, which are often separate from each other. 

“When we ask clients, ‘What does your data say?’ The implication is that operational data has a lot to say to them, but they’re just not listening due to separate data processes that operate in silos,” he said. 

Even though Searce has been in business for 20 years, it has only been operating in the Australian market for the past year. 

Bangert noted some of the key areas it was engaging with clients were in generative AI (GenAI), reducing costs through automation, engineering and data processing, automation as well as future-proofing business processes. 

“In turn, we’re creating benefits by increasing yields, eliminating overheads and assuring production continuity are all fostered through the efficient capture, storage, processing and use of business data,” he said. 

Key focus verticals for Searce include financial services, logistics and supply chain, and retail globally with mining as an additional vertical for the Australia and New Zealand region. This is driven by a strong focus on data and analytics and AI consultancy and services.

“A key industry focus is the supply chain in mining. The complex arrangements from pit-to-port across staff rostering, ore quality, mine logistics, asset maintenance, consistent scheduling and more can all be improved with data,” Bangert said. 

“We often address concerns related to data security, privacy and ethics, while our data and analytics, and AI capabilities solve the challenges of safety, productivity, cost control, and resource development.”

Some of the key investment areas for Searce were within data fundamentals: capturing, processing and analysing data; insight generation: using GenAI to drive insights, explanations and fast decision support, opportunity analysis and data digitisation.

“This requires skills in the various data platforms and tools available in the market today, whether it be a Snowflake, a Google BigQuery, a Claude 3 or Gemini AI model,” Kirk added. 

“We invest in the skillset that uses those tools in an optimal way for the business our clients are in. It’s no good building a digital application for their employees if it’s reliant on a myriad of pipelines and batch loads every day. Digitisation is a journey.”