Ben’s core thesis is clear: successful transformation requires more than just technical prowess. It demands a strategic, long-term view of value, a deliberate approach to integrating AI across the organization, and a critical, unwavering drive from senior leadership.
Let’s explore the key elements of this blueprint.

AI solutions are only as strong as the foundation they’re built upon. Ben highlighted three critical areas for establishing this technical bedrock:

• Secure Cloud Infrastructure: A secure cloud environment is paramount. This isn’t just about protecting sensitive data; it’s also essential to prevent unwanted external influences on your AI models and the data they consume.
• Sufficient and Available Data: AI thrives on data. Ensuring an ample supply of data is crucial, but it must also be readily accessible. Latency in data availability—whether in data lakes, data warehouses, or through abstraction layers—can significantly hinder AI adoption. Having the right data in the right place, accessible when needed, is fundamental for enabling AI.
• Reimagined Business Processes: Simply plugging AI into existing workflows isn’t enough. Successful integration requires deeply considering and potentially rearchitecting current business processes. AI should integrate seamlessly, considering the overall organizational workflow and future direction, rather than merely replacing a single step. As Ben puts it, “To quickly recap, one the right infrastructure and securely set two the right amount of data and three the right business process and architecture for adopting AI.”

Ben argues that this is shortsighted. He compares this to the early stages of transformative technologies like electric vehicles or achieving “5 9s” (99.999%) uptime for systems. Initial versions and attempts were rarely perfect but were necessary steps toward eventual success.

A holistic view of ROI is critical. Value and improvements emerge over time, even with lower initial accuracy. As we should never judge a book by its cover, we should not judge the success or failure of innovation by the first version. The key is to keep going. Continuing development, even with a 50%, 65%, or 75% yield today, will lead to experiencing ROI along the way and ultimately achieving the desired accuracy and full return on investment. As he states, “If your yield is 50, 65, or 75% today. Keep going. You will experience ROI and you will ultimately get to the yield that you want and experience that ROI along the way.”

• Base Layer: Business Strategy: The absolute foundation is a clear, well-defined business strategy. This strategy must explicitly consider how AI will impact everything from customer service operations to internal workflows. Strategic alignment is essential to prevent the entire transformation effort from crumbling. As stated, “At the base layer, your business strategy must be in place in order to effectively adopt AI.”
• Second Layer: Business Process Rearchitecture: Building upon the strategic foundation, business processes—both outward-facing customer operations and internal operations—must be re-evaluated and potentially reshaped to effectively integrate AI. This layer fits within and supports the overarching business strategy. Our Business Consulting group at 66degrees, for example, helps clients reshape processes over time to fit their strategic goals.
• Top Layer: Technology: The final layer is technology adoption. This includes selecting and implementing the right cloud, data, and AI solutions. Crucially, technology must align with the rearchitected business processes and the underlying business strategy. Technology serves as the enabler for the strategy and processes.