How to build an AI-ready cloud: technical foundation plus 'transformation mindset'

Recently, organizations have been experimenting with AI extensively. Considerable investments have been made in it and the end of the 'pilot and POC phase' has now been reached. Time to start looking at results and ROI!

But that's where many organizations get stuck. Because what is actually coming out of all the investments in AI?

For the time being, the answer is often: "Not much." And there are two reasons for this: a lack of a solid foundation and a mindset that is not 'AI-ready'.

Are you trying to build an AI structure... without a foundation?

A building can be impressive on paper, but without a strong foundation you won't get it off the ground. This applies just as much to your 'AI building' as it does to physical buildings. AI requires an environment in which data is accessible, systems are connected to each other and security is set up correctly. In addition, it is crucial to set up governance and compliance thoroughly and demonstrably from the outset.

If you want to get serious about AI, you need an AI-ready infrastructure and data . This means that your workplace and Azure environment are completely ready to build structural AI solutions. Once this infrastructure is in place, you can see for each department for which tasks AI has added value and build the right working method for them. All on your 'AI-ready' soil.

With such a foundation, can you by definition become an AI-driven organization? Not really. That often requires a completely different mentality...

Are you already thinking in transformations?

With AI, you can achieve enormous transformations as an organization. What if the HR team could responsibly leave resume screenings to AI? Or if the office staff enters the right information into an AI tool to automatically be presented with a solid proposal?

To go one step further: what if, as a law firm, you create and train a tool with your knowledge and then have it give advice to clients?

That's a completely different kettle of fish than asking ChatGPT a question and crossing your fingers that it doesn't produce a wrong answer (or, worse, an AI hallucination).

Interesting? For many organizations, yes. But this requires a bit of 'transformational thinking' that also evokes the necessary resistance. Because how do you use AI in this way? How do you ensure that you can really trust the output? And how do you deal with resistance within the organization, which arises because sailing such a new course can have consequences for the manpower required?

Towards an AI-driven organization: start with 2 essential steps

Not all questions require an answer in one day. If you start with two essential steps, you have come a long way: set up an AI-ready platform and work on a start-up mentality in your organization.

By the latter we mean the following: put together a group that operates outside the current structures and let them develop and build new concepts. In an iterative way, so that you can test and adjust in the meantime. This approach also offers new opportunities to the people in your organization: employees who embrace the 'transformation mentality' become the frontrunners who will soon be extremely 'AI-skilled'.

And your organization? In this way, you prepare them for the future in well-thought-out, coordinated steps.

Do you need help laying a strong AI foundation? Wortell is happy to help you with this. With the use of our in-depth expertise, we realize this basis smoothly and efficiently for you. So you don't have to spend tons of time on this.

Are you also looking for support in implementing a start-up mentality? Wortell also specializes in this. Feel free to contact us to discuss the possibilities.