GenAI in Action: Lessons from Industry Leaders on Driving Real ROI

Generative AI (GenAI) has the potential to transform industries, yet many companies are still struggling to move from experimentation to real business impact. The hype is everywhere, but the real challenge is figuring out where AI can drive measurable value—and how to overcome the barriers to adoption.

In the latest episode of Hitachi ActionTalks: GenAI, I joined a panel of experts to explore these challenges, discuss how businesses can identify the right use cases, and share strategies for making GenAI work in the real world. If you’re trying to move from AI pilots to production-ready solutions, this conversation is for you.

Why Businesses Struggle to Implement GenAI

In this session, hosted by Joel Makower, Chairman and Co-Founder of Trellis Group, I joined expert AI advisors and influencers Steve Nouri, CEO of GenAI.works, and Aishwarya Srinivasan, AI Advisor and Data Scientist. Together, we explored how GenAI is shaping industry-specific solutions, the challenges businesses face in scaling AI initiatives, and the growing role of composable AI; that is, where GenAI and traditional AI work together to create more effective, scalable, and sustainable solutions.

Many executives recognize the massive potential of GenAI, yet adoption of AI at scale remains low. A recent KPMG survey found that 65% of executives believe GenAI will have a high or extremely high impact on their organization. But they’re still two years away from deploying their first solution. The number one barrier cited was the business case, with cost being the second.

The challenge isn’t just about feasibility; it’s about identifying where AI can drive real business value. Many companies struggle with prioritizing impactful use cases and defining clear success metrics.

Finding the Right Use Cases

A common mistake businesses make is focusing too much on the technology itself, rather than the business outcomes it can deliver. My advice? When evaluating a use case, don’t over- index on the technology. Think about the business impact—what you're trying to achieve—and make sure the juice is worth the squeeze.

At GlobalLogic, we use design thinking techniques as part of our Impact IQ methodology to identify and prioritize use cases. For instance, we use an Effort-Impact Matrix to help organizations prioritize AI initiatives. This tool helps identify “quick wins.” Businesses need to find those high-impact use cases that are also feasible to implement so they can focus on AI projects that will drive measurable ROI and build momentum/memory muscle instead of chasing overly complex and/or low-value initiatives.

What You’ll Learn in This Discussion
In this Hitachi ActionTalks episode, we cover:
● The biggest challenges preventing companies from fully embracing GenAI
● How to identify and prioritize AI use cases using techniques like the Effort-Impact Matrix
● Why traditional AI and GenAI are not competitors—but complementary technologies
● The rise of composable AI, where traditional AI and GenAI work together to solve complex business problems
● The best time to start implementing AI in your organization (Hint: The second-best time is now!)

I want to thank Hitachi for hosting this important discussion and bringing together experts to share insights on the real-world challenges of AI adoption. If you're looking to move beyond experimentation and drive real business impact, don’t miss this session.

Watch the full episode here: Hitachi ActionTalks: GenAI
Let’s continue the conversation. What’s your biggest challenge with GenAI adoption? Get in touch and let’s talk about it!