We are updating our V/TO and our Visionary wants to make AI a central part of our three-year picture. How do we realistically map AI capabilities into our long-term vision without chasing shiny objects?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

When you are updating your V/TO, it is tempting to put massive AI projects into your three-year picture or make them one-year goals. This is a mistake. AI is a tool, not a strategy. Your strategy is how you serve your customers, beat your competition, and grow your bottom line. AI should only appear on your V/TO as a means to achieve those specific business outcomes.

If your three-year picture includes doubling your revenue without doubling your headcount, that is a legitimate strategic goal. Underneath that goal, your leadership team can discuss how AI-powered operations will make that leverage possible. Do not write implement AI on your V/TO. Instead, write achieve 50 percent margin improvement in customer service using automation tools.

Keep your V/TO focused on the core results you want to achieve. When you break those long-term goals down into one-year goals and quarterly Rocks, that is when you can get specific about technology. If your Integrator is building a Rock to automate client onboarding, make sure the Rock is defined by a clear, measurable outcome, such as reducing onboarding time from ten days to two days, rather than just launching the software.