News in the Channel - issue #41

FINDING VALUE IN AI

next few years between organisations that built AI on solid foundations – real-time data, strong governance, converged IT and security operations – and those that bolted it onto existing complexity. The former will compound their advantage. The latter will find that AI exposed problems they weren’t

achieve reasonable results. Try doing the same with thousands of inconsistent documents and the hidden costs quickly become apparent. That approach is simply not scalable.” David agrees that organisations need clarity. “To achieve this crystal-clear view, it requires use cases that matter, role-specific enablement and leadership alignment on what ‘good’ looks like,” he says. “Below the tool, you need strong foundations, including identity and device controls, data classification and

Contributors

ready to deal with at that speed. “The partners that thrive in this

Anthony Dobson

environment will be the ones that help customers get the fundamentals right, not the ones that sell the most impressive- sounding AI capability.” Barb adds that the next phase of AI adoption will be defined less by experimentation and more by execution. "As organisations become more experienced with AI, they’ll raise their expectations,” she explains. “They’ll want to see tangible improvements in efficiency, productivity, customer experience and operational performance. That’s where partners play a critical role – and why having the right training and certifications to stay ahead of the curve matters so much. “The opportunity isn’t simply helping customers deploy AI. It’s helping them integrate it into everyday operations, navigate governance and security considerations, and ensure it evolves alongside the business. The organisations that see the greatest long-term benefit will be those that treat AI as part of a broader transformation strategy — built on strong processes, clear accountability and a commitment to ongoing optimisation.” Andrew adds that the conversation is already shifting to AI return on investment. “Organisations are increasingly asking not whether AI works, but why some projects deliver measurable value while others fall short,” he says. “The answer often comes back to information quality. Businesses that invest in capturing, organising and governing information effectively will be far better placed to realise long-term value from AI than those relying on technology alone.” n

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Danny Hemminga

tanium.com

protection, role-based access, auditability and a content lifecycle that keeps sensitive information where it should be. “The difference? It’s not budget. It’s whether the organisation is prepared to make AI useful, safe and dependable. It starts with use cases that matter, it continues with role-based enablement, so people learn how to apply AI in the context of their jobs, i.e. how to prompt, how to validate, how to handle data safely, and when not to use the tool at all. This requires strict governance, with clear policies, escalation routes and accountability.” Future growth All commentators agreed that AI adoption will increase. Danny says the conversation is already shifting from excitement to accountability. “The organisations that moved early are now being asked to show what the investment delivered,” he says. “That shift toward measurable outcomes is healthy, and it’s where the real value starts to emerge. “I expect to see a clearer divide over the

Nathan Charles

oryxalign.com

Andrew Graham

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