Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the power to revolutionize the way businesses operate, providing unparalleled insights and opportunities for growth. However, the successful implementation of AI within an organization requires a strategic and value-driven approach. In this blog post, we will explore the five key factors that can help companies unlock the true potential of AI and achieve lasting success. From prioritizing value to fostering a collaborative culture and empowering employees, these actionable insights will guide your business on its journey to AI-driven transformation.

Read on to discover how companies like Brussels Airport Company have effectively implemented AI to improve their operations, and learn how you can apply these strategies to your own organization.

Focus on bringing value:

• Prioritize AI projects that bring tangible value to the business over just “cool” projects, which ensures better buy-in from stakeholders and improves operational efficiency.

  • AI-driven forecasting tools for resource management at Brussels Airport Company serve as an example.

• Adopt a value-focused approach from the beginning, and be ready to challenge value statements to ensure projects have a real impact on the business.

  • A team dedicated to aligning data with business strategy helps maintain this focus on value.

• Identify and prioritize new AI projects based on their potential value and the time investment required, fostering a strong relationship between the data team and the business.

  • A “value per day” metric helps in prioritizing projects, and data teams should work closely with the business to understand their pain points and processes.

Encourage collaborative culture:

• Foster a culture of collaboration among different teams to maximize the value of AI projects, ensuring all stakeholders are involved, including the data engineering and DevOps teams.

  • The entire company is seen as a stakeholder at Brussels Airport Company, and collaboration is key.

• Focus on the reusability of AI solutions to increase value and efficiency. This can be achieved by discussing potential reuse opportunities during project planning meetings and encouraging teams to think beyond their specific business unit.

  • Reusability discussions also help identify potential future needs and prepare the groundwork for those.

• Ensure clear communication with business stakeholders, using language they understand rather than focusing on technical details. It is important to convey AI solutions' cost, benefits, and usage aspects to the business.

  • At Brussels Airport Company, data teams emphasize communicating effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Superpower your people with AI:

• Identify the end-users and involve them in the development process, ensuring that AI tools are designed to help the people who will use them.

  • At Brussels Airport Company, they involve users in the demand, analysis, and development phases, constantly seeking feedback and improving the solution.

• Address potential challenges in AI adoption, such as fear of change and the perception of AI as a "black box." To address these challenges, focus on the solution's added value rather than the technology itself.

• Implement a phased approach to adopting AI solutions. Run the old system and the new AI solution in parallel for some time (e.g., three to six months), allowing users to compare and build trust in the new system.

• Begin with pilot users or a small group of main users who understand the process before scaling up to the entire department.

  • Provide training sessions for users and ensure they understand the AI solution and its benefits. Having a few initial supporters can help with adoption across the organization.

Stay up to date:

• Staying up to date with the AI landscape and market trends is crucial for maintaining AI credibility within the company.

  • At Brussels Airport Company, they focus on being a knowledgeable partner that the business can trust and rely on for AI and data solutions.

• Demonstrating expertise and staying informed can keep the data team top of mind within the organization, inspiring the business to think of them when considering AI solutions.

• Sharing case studies and examples from other industries can help inspire and educate internal stakeholders on the potential applications of AI within the company.

• AI credibility is primarily important internally to establish trust and partnership, while externally, the value and impact of the AI solution matter most to customers.

  • For instance, passengers might not be interested in the fact that Brussels Airport uses AI, but they would appreciate the reduced waiting times resulting from AI implementation.

Get the right people on board:

• Building an AI team requires a broad range of skills, such as natural language processing, computer vision, and AI translators who can communicate with the business.

• It can be challenging to find the right talent as the number of companies using AI grows, and the talent pool may be challenging to tap into.

• At Brussels Airport Company, they focus on their strengths and build internal knowledge around business and value.

  • For technical aspects, they collaborate with external partners and ensure they have the right people on board, providing maximum flexibility.

In conclusion, the five key factors for successful AI adoption discussed include:

📈 Focusing on value
🔢 Ensuring a data-driven culture
🚀 Empowering people with AI
🔄 Staying up to date with the AI landscape
🧠 Getting the right people on board

Each factor ensures that AI initiatives contribute positively to a company's strategy and success. By addressing these factors, companies can better position themselves to take advantage of AI's potential and achieve their desired outcomes.

Explore this content and the discussion between Superlinear and Brussels Airport Company in our latest webinar on-demand.

Need help in tailoring these factors to your organization? Contact us!