Modern companies have complex infrastructure with large operational teams. They tend to generate a lot of data across different functional areas of a business. Having this data gives them an advantage that can help drive operational efficiency and directly impact revenue. To extract value from data, they need a tool that can automatically extract information. This comes in the form of an AI solution! Companies launch AI initiatives to put this data into use.
The success of an AI endeavor goes beyond evaluating the accuracy of the AI solution. When you evaluate a new AI solution, you need to be sure you have the right group of people who can make it successful. From our experience, there are 7 roles within a company that are critical in driving ROI and creating business value using AI:
#1. Leader who owns P&L
A Business Unit Leader is responsible for driving P&L. This person directly benefits from increasing profitability. Within a big company, you need a strong leader who has the tenacity to look for business opportunities and be the authority that can implement new solutions.
#2. Trusted lieutenant who owns the tactical plan
The trusted lieutenant reports to the Leader and knows where the tactical opportunities exist. They drive resources towards these opportunities. This person is good at gathering consensus and making sure everyone stays focused on a given opportunity.
#3. Process Analyst who identifies the data needed
Once the opportunity is found, the Process Analysts identify what data is needed to bring this opportunity to life. They know what data is being collected across various processes and can connect the process knowledge to the data.
#4. Software Engineer who moves the data
Once the data is identified, the Software Engineer extracts the relevant data in a standard format. This person knows how to access the data and enables a smooth data transfer in an automated manner.
#5. Architect who knows how to integrate
Once the data transfer is done, the Architect figures out the best place for the new solution within their existing infrastructure. Good AI solutions enhance the current architecture without ripping anything out.
#6. Manager who has a small team
The Manager reports to the Lieutenant and manages a close-knit team. This team is responsible for getting the day-to-day work done. People on this team are the primary users of the new AI solution.
#7. Best Performer on that small team
The Best Performer on the team reports to the Manager. This person can help bring the solution to life given that they are likely a rising star in the organization. This is someone with a lot of drive that the colleagues respect. They can benefit the most from an AI solution due to their busy schedule since it can help them achieve their day-to-day tasks as well as their personal goals. A good AI solution increases the speed and accuracy of their work. The Best Performer ends up being a power user of the AI solution and drives adoption for the organization.
