Insights & Analysis

AI strategy, systems thinking, and business transformation

12 AI Implementation Mistakes We See Companies Make (And How to Avoid Them)
AI MistakesBest PracticesImplementation
12 AI Implementation Mistakes We See Companies Make (And How to Avoid Them)
After helping dozens of companies implement AI, we've seen the same mistakes repeatedly. Here's how to avoid them and save months of wasted effort.
8/5/2025
16 min read
10 AI Quick Wins You Can Implement in 30 Days
Quick WinsAI ImplementationProductivity
10 AI Quick Wins You Can Implement in 30 Days
You don't need a 6-month roadmap to start benefiting from AI. Here are 10 quick wins any company can implement in 30 days or less.
7/29/2025
11 min read
AI in HR: How to Be Both Ethical and Effective
HR TechAI EthicsRecruiting
AI in HR: How to Be Both Ethical and Effective
AI can transform recruiting, onboarding, and retention. But get it wrong and you'll face bias lawsuits and employee backlash. Here's how to do it right.
7/22/2025
10 min read
AI Due Diligence: What M&A Teams and Investors Need to Assess
Due DiligenceM&AInvestment
AI Due Diligence: What M&A Teams and Investors Need to Assess
Every company claims to use AI now. Here's how to separate genuine AI capabilities from marketing hype during due diligence.
7/15/2025
11 min read
AI Customer Service: Moving Beyond Basic Chatbots
Customer ServiceAI ChatbotsCustomer Experience
AI Customer Service: Moving Beyond Basic Chatbots
Your customers hate basic chatbots. But AI-powered service done right can improve satisfaction while cutting costs. Here's the difference.
7/8/2025
11 min read
Running an AI Proof of Concept That Actually Proves Something
AI POCPilot ProjectsImplementation
Running an AI Proof of Concept That Actually Proves Something
Most AI proofs of concept prove nothing except that AI works in a lab. Here's how to design POCs that answer real business questions and lead to production.
7/1/2025
11 min read
AI Talent Strategy: When to Hire, Train, or Partner
AI TalentHiringTraining
AI Talent Strategy: When to Hire, Train, or Partner
The AI talent shortage is real. But you have more options than you think. Here's how to build AI capabilities without winning the war for data scientists.
6/24/2025
14 min read
How to Budget for AI in 2025: A CFO's Planning Guide
AI BudgetFinancial PlanningCFO Guide
How to Budget for AI in 2025: A CFO's Planning Guide
AI investments are increasing but so is scrutiny. Here's how to build an AI budget that gets approved and delivers measurable returns.
6/17/2025
11 min read
AI and Cybersecurity: How Attackers Use It and How You Can Defend
CybersecurityAI SecurityRisk Management
AI and Cybersecurity: How Attackers Use It and How You Can Defend
AI is making cyberattacks more sophisticated. But it's also your best defense. Here's what mid-market companies need to know about AI-powered security.
6/10/2025
9 min read
AI for Professional Services: How Law Firms, Accountants, and Consultants Are Gaining an Edge
Professional ServicesLegal TechAccounting
AI for Professional Services: How Law Firms, Accountants, and Consultants Are Gaining an Edge
Professional services firms are using AI to deliver faster results at lower costs. Here's how your firm can compete without losing the human touch that clients value.
6/3/2025
11 min read
AI in Manufacturing: What Mid-Market Producers Need to Know
ManufacturingIndustry AIOperations
AI in Manufacturing: What Mid-Market Producers Need to Know
You don't need a smart factory to benefit from AI. Here are practical applications mid-market manufacturers can implement without massive capital investment.
5/27/2025
10 min read
AI for Sales Teams: A Practical Guide Beyond the Hype
AI SalesSales EnablementProductivity
AI for Sales Teams: A Practical Guide Beyond the Hype
Your sales team doesn't need another tool. They need AI that actually helps close deals. Here's what works, what doesn't, and how to implement it right.
5/20/2025
8 min read
The AI Maturity Ladder: A Realistic 18-Month Roadmap for Mid-Market Companies
AI MaturityRoadmapStrategic Planning
The AI Maturity Ladder: A Realistic 18-Month Roadmap for Mid-Market Companies
Only 1% of companies achieve full AI integration. Here's a realistic 18-month roadmap with clear milestones, resource requirements, and success metrics.
5/13/2025
9 min read
Beyond ChatGPT: How Multimodal AI Will Transform Customer Experience in 2025
Multimodal AICustomer ExperienceInnovation
Beyond ChatGPT: How Multimodal AI Will Transform Customer Experience in 2025
Text-based AI is just the beginning. Discover how voice, image, and video AI capabilities are creating competitive advantages for early adopters.
5/6/2025
7 min read
Shadow AI in Your Company: The Hidden Security Risk No One's Talking About
Shadow AISecurityCompliance
Shadow AI in Your Company: The Hidden Security Risk No One's Talking About
Your employees are using unauthorized AI tools right now. Here's how to detect shadow AI, manage the risks, and build governance without stifling innovation.
4/29/2025
12 min read
The AI Strategy Mistake Costing Companies Millions: Starting with Technology
AI StrategyBusiness OutcomesDigital Transformation
The AI Strategy Mistake Costing Companies Millions: Starting with Technology
64% of organizations are experimenting but not scaling AI. The fatal flaw? Starting with technology instead of business outcomes.
4/22/2025
8 min read
Why Your Employees Fear AI (And How to Turn Them Into Advocates)
Change ManagementAI AdoptionWorkforce
Why Your Employees Fear AI (And How to Turn Them Into Advocates)
70% of AI failures stem from people issues, not technology. Learn the four-step change management framework that turns AI skeptics into champions.
4/15/2025
11 min read
Data Quality Hell: How to Prepare for AI Without a Year-Long Data Project
Data QualityData GovernanceAI Readiness
Data Quality Hell: How to Prepare for AI Without a Year-Long Data Project
59% of data leaders say making data AI-ready is daunting. Here's how to start small and achieve quick wins without a massive data transformation project.
4/8/2025
8 min read
From 5.9% to 55% ROI: The Four AI Best Practices That Actually Work
AI ROIBest PracticesBusiness Value
From 5.9% to 55% ROI: The Four AI Best Practices That Actually Work
Enterprise AI averages 5.9% ROI, but leaders achieve 55%. Discover the four proven practices that separate AI winners from the rest.
4/1/2025
12 min read
The Build vs. Buy Trap: A Mid-Market CFO's Guide to AI Investment
AI InvestmentBuild vs BuyCFO Guide
The Build vs. Buy Trap: A Mid-Market CFO's Guide to AI Investment
85% of internal AI builds fail to deliver results. Learn when to buy, when to build, and how to avoid the costly mistakes that derail AI investments.
3/25/2025
9 min read
AI Agents Are Here: 5 Practical Use Cases You Can Implement in 90 Days
Agentic AIAI AgentsAutomation
AI Agents Are Here: 5 Practical Use Cases You Can Implement in 90 Days
Move beyond chatbots to autonomous AI agents. Here are 5 high-ROI use cases mid-market companies can implement in 90 days with realistic timelines and expected returns.
3/18/2025
13 min read
The 95% Problem: Why Your AI Pilot Succeeds But Never Scales
AI StrategyImplementationScaling
The 95% Problem: Why Your AI Pilot Succeeds But Never Scales
95% of AI pilots fail to scale. Learn the three critical gaps causing this and a practical framework for moving from experiment to enterprise value.
3/11/2025
8 min read
Choosing AI Vendors: When to Go Enterprise vs. Startup
AI VendorsTechnology SelectionBusiness Strategy
Choosing AI Vendors: When to Go Enterprise vs. Startup
The AI vendor landscape spans from established enterprise giants to innovative startups. Each has distinct advantages and risks. Learn how to make the right choice for your specific needs, and what to watch for in vendor relationships.
3/4/2025
11 min read
Measuring AI ROI: Beyond Cost Savings to Business Transformation
AI ROIBusiness MetricsAI Implementation
Measuring AI ROI: Beyond Cost Savings to Business Transformation
Traditional ROI calculations miss most of AI's value. Learn how to measure AI success through comprehensive metrics that capture cost savings, strategic benefits, and transformational impact.
2/25/2025
10 min read
Building an AI Governance Framework: A Practical Guide for Mid-Market Companies
AI GovernanceRisk ManagementCompliance
Building an AI Governance Framework: A Practical Guide for Mid-Market Companies
AI governance doesn't require enterprise bureaucracy. Learn how mid-market companies can implement practical governance frameworks that enable innovation while managing risk, without drowning in committees and documentation.
2/18/2025
9 min read
Cloud Marketplace Strategy for 2025: AWS, Azure, and GCP Compared
Cloud MarketplaceAWSAzure
Cloud Marketplace Strategy for 2025: AWS, Azure, and GCP Compared
Cloud marketplaces are transforming B2B software sales, but each platform works differently. Here's what you need to know about AWS, Azure, and GCP marketplaces to build an effective strategy in 2025.
2/11/2025
11 min read
AI Implementation Costs: What Mid-Market Companies Should Actually Expect
AI ImplementationBudget PlanningROI
AI Implementation Costs: What Mid-Market Companies Should Actually Expect
Most AI cost estimates are either vendor fantasy or enterprise-scale budgets. Here's what mid-market companies actually need to budget for AI implementation, including the costs nobody talks about.
2/4/2025
9 min read
Why Boutique AI Consulting Outperforms Big Firms for Mid-Market Companies
AI ConsultingBusiness StrategyMid-Market
Why Boutique AI Consulting Outperforms Big Firms for Mid-Market Companies
Mid-market companies often get better ROI from boutique AI consultants than enterprise firms. Here's why the traditional consulting model fails for AI implementation, and what works instead.
1/28/2025
7 min read
What 'Agentic' Really Means for Your Business
AIAgentic SystemsAutomation
What 'Agentic' Really Means for Your Business
Agentic AI is the latest buzzword flooding tech conferences and vendor pitches. But beyond the hype, what does it actually mean for business operations? Let's cut through the noise and examine the real implications of autonomous AI systems.
1/21/2025
7 min read
5 Signs Your Business Isn't Ready for AI
AI StrategyBusiness ReadinessDigital Transformation
5 Signs Your Business Isn't Ready for AI
Before rushing into AI implementation, assess whether your organization has the foundational elements needed for success. These five warning signs reveal common gaps that can derail even the most promising AI initiatives.
1/14/2025
6 min read