From Uncertainty to Impact: Building a Practical Enterprise AI Strategy
AI is no longer a question of “if,” but “how.” At Gen25, we’ve seen organisations struggle to turn AI ambitions into real-world value. That’s why we developed a practical, phased roadmap to guide enterprise AI strategies from exploration to execution. In this blog, we break down the framework—from identifying high-impact use cases to scaling successful pilots—so you can drive measurable results with confidence.
The enterprise AI conversation has evolved. It is no longer a question of whether to act, but how. While technology providers continue to flood the market with promises of transformation, decision-makers face a more practical challenge: how to create real, measurable value with AI, while avoiding costly missteps and implementation fatigue.
At Gen25, we have worked with both fast-scaling companies and complex organisations undergoing transformation. Our newest white paper distils this experience into a structured enterprise AI strategy. This roadmap breaks down the AI journey into distinct phases, each with clear decision points and business outcomes, helping organisations move confidently from exploration to execution.
📄 Access the full whitepaper:
👉 Enterprise AI Strategy: From Idea to Impact
Mapping the Landscape: Starting with Business Needs
An effective AI strategy must begin with the organisation, not the technology. Our approach starts by engaging stakeholders across departments to uncover recurring challenges, inefficiencies, and high-impact use cases. We use structured discovery sessions to identify where AI can deliver the most value, whether by automating manual processes, improving access to insights, or supporting data-driven decision-making.
Rather than pursuing a broad or exploratory agenda, we help teams focus on the most promising initiatives. These are prioritised based on potential business impact, feasibility, and readiness, ensuring early momentum and a clear focus for future phases.
A Framework for Understanding AI Tooling
The AI market is diverse and rapidly evolving. However, not all solutions are equally suitable for enterprise adoption. Through extensive client work, we have identified four categories of AI tooling that consistently deliver practical value:
- Agentic AI supports knowledge workers and automates routine tasks through large language model-powered assistants.
- Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) systems combine internal data with generative models to provide accurate, context-rich responses.
- Embedded AI integrates within platforms like Salesforce or Microsoft, enhancing existing tools without significant disruption.
- Purpose-built tools are designed to solve specific business challenges, from document parsing to summarising customer feedback.
This categorisation allows us to assess technologies based on fit, maturity, and relevance—matching tooling to business needs rather than adapting processes to technology.
Navigating the Provider Landscape with Independence
Choosing the right implementation partners and tools is a critical step. However, the provider ecosystem is often influenced by commercial interests. At Gen25, we maintain full independence in our AI advisory work. We do not have formal partnerships with AI vendors and do not receive incentives for recommending particular tools.
This allows us to objectively evaluate each solution based on practical criteria, such as integration compatibility, security standards, support structure, and long-term viability. Our aim is to support confident, defensible decisions that hold up under scrutiny and contribute to long-term success.
Building Business Cases that Drive Approval
For any AI initiative to gain traction within an organisation, it must be grounded in a solid business case. We help leadership teams develop proposals that are not only technically sound, but also financially and strategically aligned.
Each case outlines expected returns in terms of efficiency, cost savings, or revenue growth, supported by realistic assumptions and stakeholder input. This ensures initiatives are well-positioned to secure internal buy-in and resource allocation.
From Pilots to Scaled Enterprise Implementation
Moving from strategy to action begins with pilots and proof-of-concept projects. These early-stage implementations allow teams to test solutions in realistic environments, validate assumptions, and generate momentum.
When pilots succeed, we work with clients to plan and execute enterprise-wide rollouts. These larger implementations are guided by change management strategies, operational alignment, and KPIs for ongoing performance monitoring. The objective is not simply to deploy AI at scale, but to ensure it delivers sustainable, measurable results.
Why Work with Gen25?
For over 15 years, Gen25 has supported organisations in navigating complex transformations, especially in regulated and rapidly changing industries. Our AI methodology reflects this experience. It is structured, business-focused, and tailored to the unique context of each client.
We bring:
- A partner-agnostic consulting approach
- Proven methods grounded in fieldwork
- A focus on business value, not just technical implementation
📄 Explore the full methodology:
👉 Download “Enterprise AI Strategy: From Idea to Impact”
Ready to Talk?
Whether your organisation is considering its first AI use case or planning to scale successful pilots, we would be glad to discuss how we can support your objectives.
James Cronyn
Director of Business Consulting
j.cronyn@gen25.com
Bas Verkleij
Sales Director
b.verkleij@gen25.com
