Is AI all that great? You see all the buzz, but maybe your business hasn't felt the magic yet. This can be confusing and risky. If AI projects don't show results quickly, they might get dropped. While many companies try AI, many still don't see real value. Don't wait too long, or your business might get left behind. But there's a better way! Successful companies, big and small, are already winning with AI by following a simple four-step plan to get real results.
1. Start with a Practical, High-Impact Win
The first step to AI success is to start small with something that matters. Don't try to do everything at once! Instead, look for a problem that is making things slow or costing too much. Fixing one of those issues with AI is a great first win.
For instance, the folks at AMD had a tough time with tax papers for their research. It used to take weeks! But then, they used AI, and now it only takes a few hours. That's a huge help for their money team. Similarly, Lenovo created a cool tool called Studio AI. It makes marketing super fast – it cuts down the time by a whopping 80%! They also saved a lot of money.
The main idea is to use AI to improve your current work. Proven tools like Microsoft Copilot can speed things up. At Trimble, almost all their engineers use GitHub Copilot, which helps them build things faster and makes work smoother. So, what's one thing that annoys people or wastes time at your company? Maybe AI can make it easier today. That's where you should begin!
2. Build a Culture That's Ready for AI
To get your team excited about AI, make it fun and easy to learn. For example, try holding a friendly competition where teams find new ways to use AI. Similar to how AMD came up with 100 ideas in a single day, this can inspire original thought and provide practical solutions!
Also, offer different levels of AI training so everyone can learn at their own pace. Lenovo does this to help everyone feel confident with AI. Even small companies can succeed by focusing on real customer needs. Upwave's approach shows that useful AI solves actual problems. So, this week, think about one small way to make AI interesting and available to your team. A little competition or a simple training could be a great start!
3. Measure Success in Creative Ways
So, how can you tell if your AI projects are doing well? Don't just count the money! AI's real wins show up in different ways. For one thing, look at how much time is saved. For instance, Trimble had a customer who used AI for safety checks, cutting the time from half an hour to just three minutes – a real game-changer!
Plus, listen to what your customers say. Upwave knows their AI works when folks are happy, so stay with them and use the AI features. Happy customers are the best proof.
Also, track all sorts of good results. AMD monitors everything from shorter meetings to a big jump in how fast their finance team works. Even small AI improvements in making things can save a ton of money. So, think outside the box! Ask your team how AI makes their work easier and if your customers are more satisfied.
4. Think Big, But Start with What Works Today
These early wins with AI are just the beginning, like taking small steps to prepare for big changes. Think of them as building the skills and trust your team needs for something much bigger down the road. What you do today sets you up for amazing progress tomorrow.
Every leader agrees that the future will have even more AI. They envision AI operating throughout the organisation and intelligent AI Agents, like Accio, for decision-making. However, waiting for that to occur is not an option. Now is the time to begin update market insights. Here is their clear-cut yet effective advice:
- "Start with confidence, go after use cases that are guaranteed wins." - Aviad Almagor, Trimble
- "Co-create solutions with the business, that’s how you drive adoption." - Chris Wire, AMD
- "Understand your cost structure, Using existing platforms lets you scale without overspending." - George London, Upwave
- "Reduce barriers to entry, the easier it is to try AI, the faster your organization will learn." - Arthur Hu, Lenovo
Success with AI isn't one big shot in the dark. It's about being smart and disciplined while also dreaming big. By showing real value with AI today, you're making way for a future where AI doesn't just improve your business—it completely changes what you can do. The best time to start was yesterday, but the next best time is now. So, pick one small, easy AI win and get started!
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