Smart technology specifically refers to technologies that developers have crafted with the intention of employing scientific knowledge for practical purposes. Designers engineer these technologies to simplify life for individuals hindered by mundane and often repetitive tasks. These tasks are eradicated through the utilisation of computer programs or, in some cases, robotic systems. These systems carry out tasks considered to have ‘low value’.
But how does this affect you? These technologies have recently gained prevalence, being adopted in innovative new ways by companies who are embracing digitisation in order to optimise productivity and efficiency. 68% of large companies, 33% of medium-sized companies, and 15% of small companies have incorporated at least one AI technology as of 2025. It’s clear this is not a trend, but rather a movement towards permanent change. In this article, I will explore three of these technologies: Artificial Intelligence, APIs, and Automation.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence is booming. According to a 2024 Forbes Advisor poll of 165 respondents, the vast majority (79%) have used generative AI (such as chat GPT) to help them at work. The emergence of ChatGPT and its subsequent meteoric rise in popularity exemplifies the nation’s interest in smart technologies, but it’s only a small part of the larger picture. The number of UK AI companies has increased by over 600% over the last 10 years, which reflects the AI-positive mindset of the workforce, and the demand for new, purpose-built AI tools. The demand began with general-use AI models, who operated across verticals and in a much more universal sense, but this has since been honed following concerns around security and accuracy. Public use LLMs trained on publicly available data eat up any information you feed into them to get to your desired result, leaving organisations vulnerable to data leaks and security breaches.
The evolutionary next step has been towards Large Language Models who have been trained for a singular purpose, and whose source data is held securely and privately. These AI ‘agents’ operate more effectively, and crucially, more securely than public LLMs like ChatGPT. Oftentimes they include extra safeguards and can provide more assurances in terms of the accuracy of generated results.
ARCUS® Supplier Management Software is a great example of this type of AI enhancement. Now empowered with a built-in AI Assistant, ARCUS® has the ability to interact with both users and data stored within the system. Have questions regarding a specific supplier’s sustainability scoring? The assistant has answers. Need a specific contract pulling out and analysed for potential risk? The assistant can identify what you need, quickly and accurately. I personally find it’s ability to ‘translate’ legal jargon into layman’s terms particularly useful to me, but there’s something for everyone!
We didn’t stop there, though. Other AI-enhanced tools include Supplier Synopsis, currently in beta for ARCUS® Supplier Information Management. This feature generates a clear, concise overview of a full supplier record, making it more convenient and efficient to review supplier data. Used in tandem with the AI Assistant, you can tailor your at-a-glance view to match your unique working style, and the data which is most relevant to you and your role. I’m excited about the opportunities this development offers for our users to really expand what they can do within the system, building upon a strong and secure foundation of data.
APIs
APIs are more niche - the lesser-known cousin of AI. Put simply, APIs act as intricate communication bridges between applications. They break down information barriers by acting as intermediaries, thereby enhancing collaboration between diverse technologies and systems. ARCUS® has developed its own native API, ARCUS® Connect, which fulfils this role. Through our API, we integrate with over 20 official third-party sources, enabling the rapid collection of trusted information and automatic population of correct information fields within the system.
Consider our EcoVadis API, one of several ESG-related APIs. EcoVadis provide reliable, globally recognised sustainability ratings and insights, enabling companies to reduce risk and accelerate positive impact. This live connection with their database permits automatic transfer of data like environmental, ethical, sustainable procurement, labour, and human rights scores directly into our SIM and eRFX modules. Consequently, when considering a supplier at both the tender and onboarding stage, the API can help to ensure relevant data such as this is accurate and verifiable.
Automation
Finally, automation is the cornerstone of our smart technologies, seamlessly woven into our system. Automation involves designing and programming tasks. Once instructions are established, the process commences and operates with minimal human intervention, freeing up time and streamlining operations.
Our software uses automation throughout several of its workflow-based modules, but one of my favourite examples is within our SIM module, and it also features AI. Our document-scanning functionality, designed to take the stress and risk out of validating supplier documents, works automatically at the point of upload. Documents are scanned and verified for accuracy, with incorrect submissions being flagged for user review. Documents which have been successfully verified as accurate during this process can also be used to populate questionnaire answers automatically – with information such as dates, certificate numbers, and more being filled without the need for manual re-keying.
This is just one instance of how an automated system can save time and improve accuracy, and there are many more examples to be seen.
How do they affect you?
So, what does this ultimately mean for you? I’ve only scratched the surface of what these technologies can offer. The idea is for these technologies to seamlessly augment and improve existing frameworks, and their aim is not to disrupt, but to evolve into smarter ways of working. Ultimately, it’s good news for us. Less manual intervention and data aggregation, more clear oversight and strategic alignment of business goals. Your time is one of your most valuable assets, and these tools are working to protect your time without having to accept any of the usual compromises in accuracy or visibility. The possibilities are truly amazing, and as long as we can see the potential, we’ll keep pushing forward with smarter technologies.