Event to address potential of AI & blockchain for professional services

Alternative Events has brought back its popular Alternative AI series for another annual incarnation in London. Alternative AI & Blockchain for Professional Services 2018 will take place in early December, with experts from across the professional gamut sharing best practices with consultants as they look to implement blockchain technology in their day-to-day organisational workings.

While AI is already revolutionising the way consultants explore data, the industry still faces questions as to how it should adopt technology, and whether it will change pricing, among other issues. In order to help the professional services sector as a whole address these matters and share best practices among a broad network of experts, Alternative AI was born. The annual occurrence now constitutes the UK's largest technology event for professional services, and brings together law firms, in-house counsel, consultancy firms and accountancy practices.

Last year, this saw more than 300 tech leaders from across the whole AI ecosystem in professional services attend the Alternative AI for Professional Services event in London. The event also addressed the impact of AI on graduate intake and regulatory compliance, as well as the key opportunities presented to start-ups wielding AI to make waves in multiple markets, aided by more reliable handling of data through innovations such as blockchain.

This year, Alternative AI is set to return for an agenda orientated around this matter in particular. Alternative AI & Blockchain for Professional Services 2018 will see hundreds more delegates converge on Bishopgate, London, in a state-of-the-art conference venue with all the latest AV and IT systems at hand. The 4th of December will see professionals look to meet their customer prospects from the professional service marketplace, listening to and interacting with leading CIO’s, Managing Partners, IT Directors and Heads of in-house legal operations in the industry.

Keynote speakers of the 10-hour conference include Shamus Rae, Partner, Head of Innovation & Investment, KPMG, who returns from last year; Stephen Allen, Global Head of Legal Service Delivery, at Hogan Lovells; and international best-selling author Bernard Marr, a big data expert and strategic business & technology advisor. Other speakers include Vasan Srinivasan, Delivery Director – RPA at Capgemini UK; Steve Davies, Partner, Global Blockchain Leader, PwC; and Stuart Walters Chief Innovation Officer, BDO, among many more. The event will, meanwhile, be chaired by Tracey Harrison, Partner & CIO of EY UKI Advisory Services.

Satisfied attendees from last year’s event included Sarah Barrett-Vane, SBV Consulting, who said, “Still the most content-rich conference on the circuit... The exhibition was excellent, with vendors and attendees intermingling. The networking was brilliant – time to talk. Customer service and venue were excellent.”

Explaining the importance of attending future events in the Alternative AI series, Vijay Rathour, from Grant Thornton, added, “Technology as a leverage in professional services is certainly the way we’re all going. Professional services are facing a sink or swim moment: embrace technology and AI or fall into irrelevance. ‘Cheaper, better, faster’ is possible once we incorporate these evolving technologies.”