Stephen Redmond
Director, Head of Data Analytics & AI, BearingPoint Ireland
Here’s how businesses can get the most from AI adoption, says Stephen Redmond, Director, Head of Data Analytics and AI, at management and technology consultancy, BearingPoint Ireland.
Why do organisations struggle to realise value from AI, despite investing heavily in it?
Because some organisations — even large ones — don’t have a data strategy. Or they do have an old IT strategy, but one that doesn’t include AI; at least, not AI as we know it today. If your data strategy is over 12 months old and isn’t focused on AI, it’s out of date. If AI adoption is unsuccessful, you risk falling behind more AI-augmented competitors. It can also increase the cost of doing business, or it means you miss the opportunity for cost savings as productivity increases.
What does good AI adoption look like?
Last year, we surveyed 700 organisations and discovered that the AI leaders among them had all their ducks in a row. They had fixed their data architecture and had clear AI investment priorities. They also had effective data governance frameworks in place with alignment across all different functions. Plus, they hadbuilt a culture of trust across their organisations.
Younger people are especially cognisant
of AI, so if you lock the tools down,
they’ll get frustrated and use them anyway.
Why is trust important?
Bringing your workforce with you is vital because it prevents them from going on solo runs with AI, which has security, ethics and legal implications. Younger people are especially cognisant of AI, so if you lock the tools down, they’ll get frustrated and use them anyway. Also, people can be nervous about AI taking their jobs. So, trust is key.
How can you best create a culture of trust?
One way is by training staff to use AI tools effectively, encouraging acceptance through empowerment. It also assures them that AI is there to make their lives easier, and its use is surrounded by an ethical framework and legal compliance. Your AI adoption strategy needs to be driven from the top. Any decision-making should be transparent so that everyone feels included in the journey.
How should organisations prioritise AI investments?
There’s a lot of hype about genAI and agentic AI at the moment. While this may highlight the need for organisations to have the right strategies and infrastructure in place, it’s important not to get distracted by the latest shiny objects. Instead, prioritise AI investment using ‘a portfolio approach.’ Consider return on investment, feasibility, ethical risks and alignment with your strategic goals. Also, work with vendors and partners to ensure you’re using AI tools in the best way — and for the right tasks.
