🤖 Why Your Competitors Are Investing in Automation While Talking About AI
At a service management event last week, one conversation really stuck:
“We talk about our AI strategy publicly because it’s expected. But privately, we’re automating everything that doesn’t need human judgement. That’s where 80% of our ROI is.”
That sentiment? It’s everywhere. While the headlines scream “AI transformation!”, the budgets whisper something else entirely: Automation is where the real money’s going.
đź’ˇ Why?
🔹 It pays back fast
Automation delivers immediate, measurable ROI. Most AI projects… don’t.
🔹 It lays the groundwork
Poor data quality? Fragmented processes? Automation fixes those—so AI can follow later.
🔹 It’s doable today
AI talent is scarce. Automation talent? Already on your team (or just a good partner away).
And yet… Too many companies are still chasing AI as magic, expecting it to transform broken systems by force of hype.
Here’s the reality:
✔️ Yes, LLMs can draft your emails.
✔️ Yes, meeting notes can be summarised.
❌ No, you can’t plug AI into a mess and expect transformation.
🧩 The pattern we’re seeing:
The serious players unify systems first (especially post-acquisition).
They clean up their data, standardise their processes.
Then – and only then – do they scale AI.
đź’¬ Final thought:
The competitive advantage isn’t coming from those who shout about AI.
It’s flowing to those who built the boring stuff first.
Is your AI story aligned with your actual investments?
Or is automation doing the heavy lifting while AI gets the credit?