Most midmarket companies are just starting to leverage generative AI (GenAI). The most common first step is using GenAI platforms like Copilot and ChatGPT and making needed IT updates to use them effectively.
Where is your company on the GenAI adoption curve?
The table below shows some quick wins that companies can realize within the five main GenAI areas. These quick wins have low-cost adoption barriers, allow you to get your AI sea legs, and can boost productivity across your entire organization.
Boost Productivity with Wins Using Everyday GenAI
Objective |
Use AI for Quick Wins |
|
Infrastructure | Enhance your network | Automate administrative and security functions within your tech stack.
Choose computers with AI-enhancing processors when you refresh to Windows 11 after Windows 10 reaches its end of life in October 2024. |
Software | Enhance your Operating Systems and Applications | Subscribe to Microsoft Copilot for GenAI general business use because it integrates with Office 365 and Windows OS on laptops and desktops.
Migrate your line of business (LOB) applications to cloud versions and look for AI plugins to help save time or improve existing processes. Adobe, Dynamics 365, and other LOB applications are adding plugins and features. |
Security | Ensure Data Privacy | Adopt cloud provider tools for data encryption and access control to enhance data security quickly.
Implement data classification and Data Loss Prevention (DLP) solutions like Microsoft Purview to gain control and visibility into what company data is being exposed to AI. |
Operations | Integrate and automate | Build automation scripts or chatbots for routine (or tedious) everyday operational tasks and interactions.
Leverage your platform to help complete timesheets and expense reports. |
Data | Categorize data and upgrade storage | Migrate company file-level data and databases to the cloud (Azure, AWS, Google) and organize and classify that data so that your staff can use it safely with AI.
Use Microsoft’s migrate tool to import data straight from other shadow IT locations like Dropbox, Box, or ShareFile, and allow the AI in Office365 to suggest data classification types for this information based on built-in templates. Leverage AI to recommend data classification types (data labeling) for documents and data sets as the user generates them. |
Crawl, walk, run — embracing AI for competitive advantage is a process
Once you see how AI can benefit your company on a micro level, such as employees becoming more productive, you’ll be ready to move forward with AI plays that can significantly impact your ROI. For insights about how to budget for AI, see AI Budget Planning for 2025: Modernize to Compete.
Make sure to include IT modernization for GenAI in your 2025 IT budget.
No matter where Leapfrog’s clients are on their IT modernization journeys, we help them plan and budget for integrating new technologies. We then execute the transitions seamlessly and manage the IT environment so our clients can operate securely and get the most out of their investments — it’s what we’ve been doing for more than 25 years. If you have questions about how your company can start getting some AI wins, please get in touch with us today.