As organizations strive to navigate the complexities of AI adoption and capitalize on its promise, the importance of strategic collaboration with seasoned partners becomes paramount.
In this discussion, we delve into key considerations for enterprises embarking on their AI journey, exploring the nuances of generative AI use cases, the evolving landscape of AI adoption, and the critical role of strategic partnerships in driving successful outcomes.
“Typically, in an enterprise's collaborations with IT service vendors, the enterprise outlines their needs in detail, and the partner simply codes. But if you are working in areas of innovation, this falls short.”
At the core of successful AI integration lies what we at Ideas2IT call our "solutioning DNA" - the school of thought we harbor at Ideas2IT that drives higher levels of accountability and ownership in our team members, especially those tasked with technological experimentation.
I believe that for an enterprise to innovate, one needs to operate at the intersection of three things, which require both parties to tap into what they know best.
- First, one needs to be technically competent in emerging technologies, and what they make possible.
- Secondly, one needs to know what can be built with these emerging technologies.
- Thirdly, one needs to understand what business value can come from what is built.
When partnering with enterprises, we can bring the first and second to the table - but it is our customer who will know their business best, and the process to arrive at the use case(s) to solve would be an iterative one.
Our approach to helping enterprises prepare for the move
Navigating the landscape of emerging technologies like generative AI requires a structured approach to use case identification.
At Ideas2IT, we adhere to a comprehensive framework encompassing context understanding, use case identification, feasibility analysis, cost-benefit assessment, and risk governance. This systematic process ensures that initiatives align with business objectives while mitigating potential risks.
For example, we start by understanding the business context, pain points, and availability of data opportunities. Then we collaboratively come up with use cases that are put through a rigorous cost-benefit analysis.
For new and envelope-pushing solutions, you have to look at feasibility and governance risks, both real and perceived.
For example, an AI solution can easily generate and inject an SQL to surface the required data. But would an enterprise be comfortable with a third-party tool executing SQL that they have not vetted? That can be solved with something like a query cache which lets you use the solution but also makes it safer.
So it's not like you cannot adopt these techniques - you just have to put in the right guardrails.
Why you need experienced AGI partners
You need experienced AGI partners for two reasons:
- One, a lot of additional functionality and capability can be achieved by doing a lot of pure data science work around AGI.
- Two, if you're just using an open API, you are ignoring the risks. Most of these open APIs are black boxes and an enterprise can’t take that risk.
“Today everybody says that they can do AGI, mostly because it can look deceptively simple. They think they’re not going to need hardcore data science and just an open API would be enough. While it can get you started, that’s where it ends.”
So yes, the space is flooded with options. But the proof is in the pudding. It's imperative to scrutinize their track record and depth of expertise. Assessing past projects, evaluating technical capabilities, and scrutinizing real-world use cases are essential steps in identifying a partner equipped to navigate the complexities of the AGI landscape.
Different approaches to AGI adoption
Enterprises exhibit varied approaches to AGI adoption, ranging from superficial integration for nominal enhancements to transformative utilization aimed at cost reduction and productivity enhancement.
For example, HubSpot has a chatbot that can get you information from the platform. But you can do that yourself very easily from the screen. So, they’ve checked the box for AI but the adoption is not fundamentally changing any part of the business to a competitive edge.
On the other hand, some are adopting it to cut costs or speed up the team’s work. For example, at Ideas2IT, we have been adopting these technologies for more than a year, and in many areas, we're seeing around 25 to 40% improvement. But it comes with its challenges. For one, these tools are not mature yet so people need to be trained and a lot of changes in the development processes are required.
Tools like Consensus, an LLM that synthesizes research data, offer promising avenues for streamlining research processes and enhancing productivity across various domains without significant risk. It can be a very good starting point for researchers and since it provides the source, they can double-check for accuracy.
Setting up the A(I) Team
Navigating the landscape of AI adoption and finding the right partners requires a strategic approach, often beginning with top-level engagement. Establishing a governance committee and a strategy committee at the C-suite level sets the foundation for informed decision-making.
From there, alignment between business and technology teams is crucial, forming what we term technology strategy and adversary services. This collaborative framework facilitates the identification of use cases, execution of AI initiatives, and continuous monitoring and evangelization of outcomes.
If the enterprise is completely capable internally, they can have an internal team, which is a technology advisory service. However, since most enterprises don’t have the AGI capability, they can start with a partner and slowly roll it in-house.
When seeking a partner, it's essential to prioritize consultative and strategic capabilities. Look for vendors with a proven track record in enterprise use cases, emphasizing experience in deploying AI solutions across diverse organizational contexts. Additionally, assessing a partner's longevity and expertise in rolling out AI initiatives ensures alignment with your goals and objectives.
Graduating from ‘Exploration’ to ‘Experience’ with Gen AI in healthcare
The healthcare industry spans various sectors, including payers, providers, life science companies, and drug discovery, each exhibiting unique adoption patterns for generative AI. Providers, for instance, tend to prioritize safety and risk mitigation over competitive edge, leading to slower adoption rates compared to sectors like drug discovery, which embrace AI innovations more rapidly.
At Ideas2IT, we've engaged in use case modeling for leading pharmaceutical firms, particularly focusing on streamlining data management during drug trials. The expedited completion of clinical trials, facilitated by AI's ability to detect errors and anomalies, translates to significant cost savings and risk reduction for healthcare entities. Have a look at the success we’ve had helping a Fortune 500 healthcare pioneer go from data chaos to clarity in care.
One compelling application of AI lies in its capability to interpret documents with human-like precision, enhancing efficiency and accuracy across various healthcare processes.
For instance, in the discharge process, where nurses traditionally spend considerable time transcribing patient data, AI-powered systems can autonomously analyze and transfer information, freeing up valuable resources while ensuring data accuracy.
Outcomes you can expect from an engagement with Ideas2it
Engaging with Ideas2IT offers a range of tailored solutions to expedite AI adoption and drive tangible business outcomes. We offer a workshop or a whiteboarding session for free if we think we can be a good fit for your business. In this workshop, we work together to identify use cases and come up with a framework that could work for you.
What should your technology adoption strategy be? Where do you buy? How do you select vendors so we can give you a framework?
We have another offering where we provide you with a very senior architect as a resource and we can guide you on where to leverage the architect to do some of the initial work. This can provide some immediate value and you can see their capability.
Whether it's identifying use cases, formulating technology adoption frameworks, or leveraging senior architects for strategic guidance, Ideas2IT empowers enterprises to accelerate their AI journey and unlock transformative potential.