Many firms are currently struggling to scale AI initiatives because they treat the technology as a bolt-on solution rather than a catalyst for operational change. Mahmoud Ramin, a research director at Info-Tech, argues that applying AI to individual steps creates short-term speed but fails to alter the underlying business outcomes. Instead of focusing on tool adoption, leadership teams should prioritize redesigning workflows to resolve bottlenecks and friction points.

The firm’s new blueprint, Reimagine Business Processes With an AI-First Approach, outlines a three-phase methodology to transition companies from fragmented experimentation to intentional design. This process begins with discovering pain points across cross-functional groups, followed by prioritizing candidates for redesign, and concludes with mapping future-state workflows that leverage capabilities like intelligent routing, forecasting, and automated decisioning. By documenting these shifts through a Process Reimagination Canvas, organizations can ensure that their technical investments align with strategic goals rather than simply reinforcing legacy structures.