Organizations across industries are moving quickly to explore how artificial intelligence can improve operations, strengthen workflows and support better decision-making. But many professionals are being asked to contribute to these efforts without formal training in how to evaluate opportunities, document processes or support responsible AI adoption across teams and business operations.
For example, a manager might recognize that their team spends hours each week summarizing meeting notes, routing requests between departments or manually reviewing large volumes of routine documents. But they may not know how to evaluate whether those processes are good candidates for AI support or how to introduce changes in a structured way.
The urgency of building these capabilities is clear. According to the McKinsey Global Institute, "demand for AI fluency has grown sevenfold in just two years, faster than for any other skill in US job postings."
The University of Minnesota’s AI for Business Operations Certificate program is designed to help professionals build the frameworks needed to support AI adoption at the workflow and organizational level. Rather than focusing only on individual productivity tools, the program prepares participants to identify high-impact operational opportunities, evaluate return on investment and support responsible implementation across departments.
"Many organizations are moving beyond experimenting with AI at the individual level and are now asking how it can improve workflows across teams," says Molly Hahne, associate director of Professional Development Programs. "Professionals who understand both the operational context and the governance considerations around AI are becoming essential to successful implementation efforts."
The certificate includes three six-week courses that provide a structured and practical deep dive into the skills needed to support AI adoption within business operations:
- AI for Productivity
- AI for Operational Efficiency
- Enterprise AI: Governance, Integration and Scaling
Together, these courses provide a structured progression from strengthening individual and team productivity to mapping workflows, identifying operational bottlenecks and designing AI-enabled operational processes that support measurable business impact. Participants also learn how to evaluate potential use cases using return-on-investment considerations, communicate the value of AI initiatives to stakeholders and apply AI governance guardrails related to data use, reliability and organizational readiness.
This progression helps learners connect technical possibilities with real organizational needs and prepares them to support enterprise AI adoption across teams and departments as organizations move beyond experimentation toward broader operational integration.
"Organizations need professionals who can connect technical possibilities with real operational needs," said certificate developer and course instructor Valerie Lockhart. "That might mean documenting how work currently moves between teams, identifying where delays or duplication occur and helping pilot an AI-supported process that improves consistency while still maintaining human oversight. This certificate helps participants build practical frameworks they can apply immediately within their own workplaces."
Designed for working professionals, the 100% online AI certificate program allows participants to join from anywhere. Daytime and evening course sessions are available to support a range of schedules.
Each course combines structured independent study with weekly live 90-minute Zoom sessions. This is where learners engage with peers across industries and receive direct feedback from the instructor while applying course concepts to real workplace scenarios. These interactive sessions create opportunities to build connections with other professionals who are navigating similar organizational AI implementation challenges.
The certificate is ideal for professionals who are ready to move beyond using AI tools individually and begin supporting implementation across workflows, teams and departments. Participants complete the program with a clearer understanding of where AI can improve operational processes and how to help organizations adopt these tools responsibly, strategically and at scale.
As organizations continue to integrate AI into everyday operations, professionals who can bridge strategy, workflows and implementation will play an increasingly important role in shaping how these technologies deliver measurable business value.
Strengthen Operational Efficiency with AI
At the University of Minnesota’s College of Continuing and Professional Studies, we offer programs that help professionals strengthen critical skills and apply practical strategies at work. The AI for Business Operations Certificate is designed for professionals who want to identify opportunities for operational efficiency, evaluate business impact and support responsible AI implementation across workflows, teams and departments. For organizations seeking to develop their teams, CCAPS’ Workforce Development Program delivers customized group training aligned with organizational priorities and workforce goals.
Monique Dubos is a writer and content strategist with the UMN College of Continuing and Professionals Studies, where she covers the College’s noncredit professional development programs. Her previous beats included CCAPS' construction management, healthcare management, and IT infrastructure programs. She has also written for the Institute on the Environment, the Minnesota Technical Assistance Program and various publications. Connect with her via LinkedIn.