Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into your organization is becoming a strategic imperative for those seeking to stay competitive. While adoption of AI raises important questions around trust, governance and ethics, a pragmatic and responsible approach can help leaders modernize operations and make better, faster decisions. By working with an experienced partner, organizations can define and execute an AI strategy that aligns technology investments with business outcomes.
What is an AI strategy?
An AI strategy outlines a comprehensive plan for how an organization will apply artificial intelligence to support its long-term and short-term goals. Without a strategic approach, the addition of AI is only semi-effective in furthering business objectives. Creating a clear roadmap helps ensure effective use of resources and enables the execution of a sustainable competitive advantage in your field.
Can implementing an AI strategy benefit your business?
Organizations across industries are realizing tangible benefits when AI initiatives are tied to clear business objectives and implemented responsibly. Below are examples of how partnering with an AI solutions provider can deliver value.
7 benefits of implementing an AI strategy:
- Automates repetitive and time-intensive tasks
- Lowers operational costs
- Optimizes resource allocation
- Fosters internal innovations
- Generates actionable insights
- Delivers superior customer service
- Frees up people for higher-value work
Understanding AI’s role in automation
To understand which AI solutions are best suited to your business, you’ll need to understand how AI improves operational efficiency. AI solutions are designed to help organizations process large volumes of data, identify patterns and support decision-making at speed and scale. Today’s AI systems augment human expertise rather than replace it and support employees with insights, predictions and recommendations. AI software solutions help machines intake information, process large amounts of data, recognize patterns and make predictions or suggestions based on the input.
Examples of how AI solutions are applied across various industries:
- Customer service: AI-enabled virtual agents provide 24/7 support to clients, negating the need for round-the-clock customer service teams
- Finance: AI streamlines invoice processing, validation and approvals, saving finance departments time and effort
- Manufacturing: AI solutions optimize inventory management, predict demand and automate orders, improving supply chain performance
- Healthcare: AI solutions automate administrative tasks and manage patient records to help operations run smoothly
What is an AI use case?
An AI use case defines the specific problem or opportunity an AI solution is designed to address. Examples include an AI algorithm analyzing transaction patterns to detect fraud in real time and providing customized recommendations on a retail site. Introducing an AI software solution without a defined use case often leads to limited impact due to a lack of purpose or unclear metrics.
The 3 steps to developing an AI strategy
A successful AI strategy ensures technology investments support business growth and improve operations. Use these three steps to develop a well-rounded plan for a custom AI solution.
Step 1: Define the vision
Before integrating an AI software solution, conduct a thorough assessment of your organization’s needs. Evaluate the fluidity of current operations, identify pain points and challenges, conduct market research and map out industry-specific goals and opportunities to aim for.
Step 2: Determine AI readiness and try out different tools
When working with an AI solutions provider, they’ll likely stress the importance of your business’s AI readiness. This holistic evaluation is designed to identify gaps in various aspects of your organization, including strategy, data, technology, people and governance. Only after these problem areas are identified, and mitigation and accountability plans are put in place, can you move from the pilot stages to the implementation of your AI solution.
AI readiness assessments help organizations understand gaps across key dimensions, including:
- Data availability, quality and governance
- Technology and infrastructure
- Security and privacy controls
- Talent, skills, and change readiness
- Ethical and regulatory considerations
Targeted pilots allow organizations to test assumptions, validate value and refine governance before scaling AI solutions across the enterprise.
Key pillars of AI readiness:
- Data availability, quality and governance
- IT infrastructure
- Existing software compatibility
- Security protocols and encryption
- Talent and workforce
Step 3: Execute and govern the AI strategy
To execute an AI strategy, you’ll need a well-defined plan. Create a multi-phased roadmap for each project, establish governance with clear guidelines and assign accountability to ensure responsible AI use within your company.
The project doesn’t end after the AI software solutions are introduced. Be sure to continuously evaluate each AI solution's performance, gathering team and customer feedback along the way. If any issues or failures arise, be prepared to adjust your strategy.
Elements to prioritize when building an AI strategy:
- Repeatability: AI solutions that scale and deliver reliable results across functions
- Responsibility: AI solutions should align with the company’s ethical principles and values, as well as industry regulations, to mitigate risks
- Collaborability: AI solutions should break down silos between departments, encouraging teamwork and fostering a unified workplace culture
- Agility: AI software solutions should be adaptable as technology, data and businesses evolve and grow
What is an AI solutions provider?
Creating an AI strategy can be daunting. That’s why organizations partner with AI solutions providers to support them throughout their AI journey.
AI solutions providers help you think bigger and are specialized companies and consultants who use their expertise to design, build, deploy and maintain AI software solutions. Throughout the process, they can identify opportunities, create tailored models, build new infrastructure, integrate new systems with existing programs and provide ongoing updates and support as your business needs evolve.
Our approach to AI
An AI strategy will deliver value and measurable outcomes when it is practical, business-driven and responsible. By partnering with us as your AI solutions provider, you’re tapping into our deep industry expertise and our commitment to responsible AI practices. Through offerings like AI LaunchPad, we work with clients to develop an innovative, attainable and aligned strategy for your unique organization.
Don’t let the hesitations and questions about artificial intelligence hold you back. Connect with us today to explore how a well-rounded and pragmatic AI strategy can support your organization’s goals.
