Most leaders think AI adoption is a technology challenge. They assume that if they choose the right platform and give people access to the tools, adoption will follow.
But giving access does not necessarily increase adoption.
AI adoption can be viewed as a success when people change how they work through leveraging the technology. And people only change how they work when they buy into the transformation.
A study by the Boston Consulting Group found that around 70% of the challenges involved in scaling AI are people and process issues, while only 30% relate to technology and algorithms. The companies creating the most value from AI spend the majority of their effort on people, workflow redesign and talent management.
In other words, AI adoption is not primarily a technology problem. It’s a human one.
The finding reminded me of a lesson I’ve seen repeatedly over the last decade working with organizations trying to drive innovation and transformation. Leaders often focus on driving the roadmap of the technology or strategy they are introducing to the organization.
But the real challenge is creating buy-in, which is a combination of two things:
- Belief: People believing your initiative is good for the organization and accepting it as legitimate.
- Participation: People willing to advocate for your initiative to others and actively contribute to its success.
Both ingredients are essential. Value is not created when people gain access to a tool. Value is created when people start using the tool and change their behavior. That requires more than software. It requires buy-in.
The lesson extends far beyond AI. Whether you are implementing a new strategy, launching an innovation program, or leading a transformation. The organizations that succeed won’t necessarily be those with the most advanced tools. They will be the ones that create the most belief and participation.