Lately I have been talking to a lot of people about AI – clients, colleagues and SMEs across different industries. Almost everyone is saying the same thing:
“We know AI is important, we’re looking at how we measure ROI and then will assess the best place to get started.”
I get the thinking behind this, AI is moving fast, there is a lot of noise out there, technology spend has been under pressure for several years now, and no one wants to take a wrong step.
The reality of the situation is that doing nothing is probably the biggest risk of all.
Think about this, if 20% of your workforce’s time could be automated or enhanced, what would you do with that capacity?
- Would you deliver more change?
- Could your business move faster?
- Get more projects completed?
- Free up people to focus on what really matters?
These are the real opportunities with AI. We don’t need to see AI as a way to replace people, we need to see it as a way to amplify them; think Bradley Cooper in Limitless
I’ve just been on a trip to the US and as I was driving down highway 65 from Chicago, it got me thinking about AI. There were lots of lanes and vehicles all moving at different speeds but heading in a forward direction.
Some organisations are already speeding down the fast lane, automating workflows, using tools like Copilot or chatbots to make work faster and smarter.
Others are cruising in the middle lanes, using AI to forecast, enrich data and improve customer experiences.
And then you have the slow lane, where the big, strategic work happens. Resigning systems, building models, and rethinking what the business looks like in an AI driven world.
There is no single right lane. The only wrong lane is the hard shoulder, watching everyone else move ahead while you stay parked.
A lot of organisations are stuck because they are waiting for the right plan, the right metrics, the ideal use case or the perfect moment. The rewards won’t come from perfection, they will come through momentum.
The businesses that are making progress aren’t necessarily the biggest or the most advanced. They’re the ones that just start. They experiment, learn quickly, build confidence, and create their own playbook as they go.
You don’t need a company wide strategy before you start, you just need your first small step.
So many people are focused on ROI and efficiency and cost savings. I understand why that is the case but what if we could flip that thinking?
- How much more could we achieve?
- How much faster could we move?
- How much more could we get done in a year?
That’s the real value. Unlocking capacity, speed and creativity across the business.
If you wait until the road is clear, your competitors will already be halfway to their destination.
Start small. Automate one reporting process. Use AI to summarise customer feedback. Try it where it can reduce friction or give your people better insight.
Each step builds confidence and capability.
Because AI doesn’t have to disrupt your business but ignoring it will mean someone else eventually does.
Aidan McGarvey, Head of Consulting
