Harnessing AI in Organizations: Strategic Insights for Lasting Success

Yet, to fully realize its potential, leaders must navigate a few critical decision points with clarity and purpose. Here’s how to turn ambition into achievement.

Across industries, AI is reshaping the competitive landscape. While media often highlights breakthrough successes, the reality is that many initiatives falter, not due to lack of potential, but because of avoidable mistakes. 

The GenAI Divide State of AI in business 2025, issued by MIT, points out that US business has so far invested between $35 billion and $40 billion in Generative AI with very little to show for it, with 95% of Generative AI pilots yielding no business impact or tangible P&L outcomes.

 “AI success requires thoughtful progression, not haste driven by market buzz,” emphasizes Beatrice Rollet, Group CTO at Inetum.

Drawing from Inetum’s latest white paper, Modern AI, which supports over 350 AI programs across Europe, here are six strategic principles to guide decision makers toward impactful and sustainable AI adoption.

1. Align AI with Business Vision

AI must be a strategic enabler, not a standalone experiment. Before diving into technology, clarify whether your approach is “AI-first” (reimagining processes around AI) or “AI-improvement” (enhancing existing workflows). This alignment ensures that transformation efforts are purposeful and measurable.

“Decide whether your goal is iterative evolution or disruptive innovation,” advises Beatrice Rollet.

2. Treat AI as a Product, Not Just a Project

AI initiatives thrive when managed as long-term products with dedicated roadmaps, not short-term projects. This means investing in product management, phased deployments, and continuous iteration.

“AI development requires sustained rhythm and strategic funding;” notes Beatrice Rollet.

3. Invest Wisely and Comprehensively

AI transformation demands more than budgets. It requires foresight. Beyond initial costs, consider infrastructure upgrades, specialized talent, and responsible AI practices. A strong technical foundation is essential for success.

“Complex workflows need robust support. Underestimating this threshold can derail progress,” warns Inetum’s white paper.

4. Engage All Stakeholders Early

Successful AI adoption is a collective effort. Engage business leaders, end users, and technical teams from the outset. A 360-degree view ensures alignment and prevents bottlenecks, whether organizational, financial, or technical. “Inclusive vision is key. One overlooked stakeholder can stall the entire initiative,” reminds Inetum.

5. Balance Ambition with Pragmatism

Start with high-impact pilots with clear boundaries, outcomes. Anticipate the scale from day one. This approach builds momentum while managing risk.

“Think big, start smart. Avoid extremes that either overwhelm or underdeliver,” recommends Inetum.

6. Understand AI’s Capabilities and Limits

AI is powerful, but not infallible. Leaders must understand its probabilistic nature, including phenomena like hallucinations and content uniformity. Testing, monitoring and overseeing are essential to ensure reliability and relevance. “The best results come from human-AI collaboration, strong data governance, and clear use-case boundaries,” explains Beatrice Rollet.

A Roadmap for Resilient AI Success

The Gen AI Divide isn’t a fatality. Inetum proposes a six-point methodology to guide organizations through AI adoption with impact. With the right strategy, your company can innovate faster, easier, and responsibly to improve its cost optimization, operational excellence or customer experience!