AI Strategy isn’t Disruption - It’s Business Evolution

By Anthony Harrison, Head of UX Strategy, Omnia

9 April 2025

The rush to “do something with AI” is real. Having worked with global and regional clients across banking, government, private sector and retail - I’ve noticed this pattern: Most organisations jump into tools & tech before they understand the role AI should play in their business.


💡 So where should AI Strategy sit in your Business?


One of the first - and most important - steps in developing an AI strategy is answering this question:


Where should AI live in your organisation?


If your answer is “with IT” you’re only 10% right because...


AI IS NOT..


  • • just another line item for the CIO/CTO
  • • just automation or a repeat of the digital transformation playbook
  • • just the chatbot you implemented X years ago
  • • just another tech upgrade or integration

    • AI IS...


    • A strategic evolution in how organisations operate, learn and grow


    • A cross-cutting capability with the power to reshape business models, customer journeys and internal operations



Here’s how AI spans departments - and where you should be looking:

01

CEO / Strategy

Monetising data, innovating business models, defining long-term AI vision
02

CTO / CIO

MLOps, infrastructure, responsible AI practices, vendor/platform selection
03

CMO / CX

Hyper-personalisation, intelligent segmentation, real-time customer engagement
04

COO / Ops

Intelligent automation, predictive routing, fraud detection
05

CHRO / HR

Talent analytics, skill mapping, AI literacy and change management
06

CDO / Innovation

AI CoEs, governance frameworks, experimentation pipelines

So Where Does AI Belong?

🧭 So Where Does AI Belong?


That depends on your intent;


• Are you aiming for cost reduction? ...it may start in operations


• Looking to enhance CX? ...then it sits within marketing and/or digital


• Planning to transform your value proposition? ...then it’s a boardroom conversation


The best strategies align AI with business priorities, not just tech capabilities


⚠️ The risks of misplacing AI


Many organisations assign AI to a silo - often IT - and then wonder why both adoption and ROI stalls


So what was missing?


  • • No clear governance or ownership
  • • No cross-functional collaboration
  • • No business value metrics beyond “model accuracy"


The Result?


...disconnected pilots... growing AI fatigue/disillusionment... orphaned tools/software/apps/processes etc, etc.


Sound familiar?


👔 advice to leaders and if you're a leader thinking...


When crafting your AI roadmap, ask yourself:


  • • Who owns AI in your business today?
  • • Who should own it tomorrow?
  • • What real-world problems are you trying to solve?
  • • How will AI support your competitive advantage?
  • • Who gets to write the rules to the game?
  • • Who is set to benefit?


...and most importantly:


Don’t chase models, craft outcomes instead


🤔 If you’re a business leader thinking about how to:


• Create, shape or refine your AI strategy


• Connect AI to business outcomes


• Drive internal adoption and literacy


• Navigate regulation, governance and ethics


Let’s create something transformative, grounded in reality and steered by human intelligence.


Get in touch to see how we can help clients like you.


#AI #Strategy #BusinessTransformation #DigitalLeadership #Innovation #FutureOfWork #Omnia #Globant


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