AI creates value only as a connected system.
Independent research shows that the vast majority of AI projects in companies do not deliver the expected business value. Not because of poor models, but because of unclear goals, disconnected solutions, disorganised data and a lack of oversight.
If your company has already invested in AI pilots, tools or individual projects, the good news is that the solution rarely means starting over. Above all, it means connecting what you already have into a system that actually works and stays under control.
Smartis, as a systems integrator for AI, connects the business goal, processes, data, existing AI solutions, infrastructure, and governance and oversight into a whole that measures and proves business impact.
For company leaders who want to move from AI experiments to a systemic, controlled rollout, without replacing what already works.
Disconnected AI adoption quickly creates a new layer of complexity, costs and risks
Do you recognise any of these signs?
- 01The platform was chosen before the business problem was clearly defined.
- 02The project has no baseline, accountable owner or measure of business impact.
- 03AI has been added to an existing process without rethinking the process first.
- 04Data and knowledge are outdated, unstructured, disconnected or without clear access rules.
- 05Security, accountability, and governance and oversight only come up just before rollout.
- 06Individual teams adopt tools on their own, while the company has no overview of usage, costs and risks.
“If sales uses one AI solution, finance another, procurement a third and customer service a fourth, the company has not necessarily become four times more efficient. It may mainly have gained four new technology islands.”
The cause rarely lies in the technology, but in how value is lost along the way
of AI projects do not deliver the expected business value – roughly twice as many as comparable IT projects without AI.
RAND Corporation, 2024of surveyed industry experts named leadership decisions – not the technology itself – as the main cause of failure.
RAND Corporation, 2024of generative AI pilot projects do not achieve a measurable impact on the company's business results.
MIT NANDA, 2025of companies abandoned most of their AI initiatives in 2025 (compared with 17 % the year before).
S&P Global Market Intelligence, 2025of AI projects without properly prepared data will, according to Gartner's estimate, be abandoned by the end of 2026.
Gartner, 2025These figures say that projects fall short of expectations, but not where exactly the value is lost. The answer is surprisingly consistent: in wrong assumptions right at the start of the project.
Where value is actually lost
That is how much higher the value of complementary investments (processes, knowledge, skills, oversight) is compared with the direct investment in technology.
NBER 24001; Brynjolfsson, Hitt & Yang, 2002That is how long it takes on average for the measurable benefits of an IT investment to fully show. The first year often shows only small effects.
Bresnahan, Brynjolfsson & Hitt, 2002The good news: in most cases a company does not need new tools or additional pilots. It needs a link between what it already has, a clear business goal, well-organised processes and data, connected solutions and clear governance. That is exactly the Smartis AI6 approach.
A systemic approach across six connected areas
How do we approach systematising AI in practice so that it delivers the expected business results?
- 1.
Business case and ROI
What do we want to achieve with AI – and how do we measure it?
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- Often in practice
- A company often already has one or more AI projects, but without a clear baseline, an accountable owner or a measure of success.
- How we help
- We help you define the business goal, baseline and success criteria for existing and planned initiatives, so that the impact can be proven, not just assumed. We do not introduce a new project in your place.
- What you get
- An assessed portfolio of use cases and clear rules for measuring business impact.
- 2.
Process redesign
Is the process we have automated, or are planning to, designed for automation at all?
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- Often in practice
- AI is often added to an existing process without first rethinking the sequence of steps and responsibilities.
- How we help
- Together with you, we review the existing process and propose the adjustments needed for automation to actually work. We do not introduce a new process from scratch.
- What you get
- A redesigned process and the simplest sufficient approach chosen before anything is automated.
- 3.
Data and knowledge
Are the existing data and knowledge sources organised well enough for AI?
- 4.
Integration
How do we connect AI solutions with the business applications and systems the company already has, and AI solutions with each other?
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- Often in practice
- Sales, finance, procurement and support often use separate AI solutions with no common connection.
- How we help
- We help you connect existing models, applications and data into a whole that works together, without replacing tools that already work well.
- What you get
- One managed entry point instead of a multitude of separate connections.
- 5.
Infrastructure
Can the existing technology foundation withstand the growth of AI use?
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- Often in practice
- Infrastructure is often designed for individual pilots, not for systemic, growing use.
- How we help
- Together with you, we assess the existing infrastructure and, where needed, extend it or connect it to external environments, based on actual requirements, not by default in favour of a new platform.
- What you get
- An architecture that allows tools to be swapped without rebuilding the system.
- 6.
Governance and oversight
Who decides today what AI can access and what it is allowed to do?
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- Often in practice
- Roles, access rights and responsibilities are often defined only afterwards, if at all.
- How we help
- We help you establish clear roles, rights and oversight policies for existing and future AI activities, which can then be monitored on an ongoing basis.
- What you get
- Clear access rights and lasting oversight, not just a one-off check at launch.
Where is your company today?
A free, structured introductory conversation (Smartis AI Readiness Assessment) in which you gain a quick insight into all six areas and together we define the first steps – based on what you already have.
A systemic approach to AI needs an integrator, not a new vendor
A large company rarely needs yet another disconnected tool. It needs a partner who understands the entire environment and knows how to connect existing business, process and technology elements into a working whole.
Smartis has more than 20 years of experience with the infrastructure and operation of demanding IT environments. To this it adds knowledge in data and knowledge, security and identities, integrations, and a network of selected technology and process partners.
“The customer does not want to assemble different platforms, vendors and technologies on their own. They expect a complete solution.”
We work with what you already have
We do not sell a single platform; we connect existing solutions, tools and partners into a working whole.
A systemic view
From the business goal to the long-term management of the environment.
Integration
Connecting different models, applications, data and existing information systems.
Infrastructure and operations
Designing an environment that is powerful, secure and cost-manageable.
Security and identities
Clear access rights, oversight and protection of sensitive information.
Partner ecosystem
Choosing solutions to fit the business and technology needs of each company, without being tied to a single vendor.
A long-term relationship
At many companies, Smartis already knows the environment, the infrastructure and the business context.
Where is your company today?
The Smartis AI Readiness Assessment is a free, structured introductory conversation. Its purpose is a quick, high-level insight into your current state across all six areas and a joint definition of the first steps, based on what you already have.
The conversation covers all 6 areas of the Smartis AI6 approach:
- Business case and ROI
- Process redesign
- Data and knowledge
- Integration
- Infrastructure
- Governance and oversight
No obligation and no cost.
From the introductory conversation to a map of priorities
Once the key gaps and goals from the introductory conversation are clear, the next step can be the Smartis AI Executive Workshop – a paid workshop for a small group of executives from a single company. At the workshop, the leadership aligns business and technology priorities and creates a map of priority areas and potential AI use cases.
Prerequisite: the AI Readiness Assessment is the first step before the workshop. The findings from the conversation are the basis on which we prepare and tailor the workshop content to your company. The workshop is designed for each company separately.
First, request a free introductory conversation (AI Readiness Assessment).Frequently asked questions
Will we have to replace our existing AI solutions?
No. The goal is to connect and organise existing solutions so that they actually create the expected business value. Replacing an individual solution makes sense only when it does not meet business, security or technical requirements.
Does Smartis implement only one AI platform?
No. The role of a systems integrator is to connect the most suitable models, applications, data, partners and existing systems into a working whole, tailored to the company's business and technology needs.
Do we need to have a specific use case chosen before working together?
Not necessarily. The first step can be precisely defining the business challenges and areas where AI could create the greatest impact.
Can we start with one limited process?
Yes. A limited, well-defined process can be a sensible start if it has a clear business goal, success criteria and a link to the longer-term architecture.
Does AI have to run in the public cloud?
Not necessarily. Based on its data, security requirements, performance and costs, a company has to decide what it will run in its own environment, what in the cloud and how it will connect the two.
Why does company leadership need to be involved in the rollout?
Because AI goes beyond a single department. It affects business goals, processes, data, responsibilities and systemic risks.
What is the difference between the Executive Briefing and the AI Readiness Assessment?
The AI Executive Briefing is a free general introduction to the six key areas, intended for company leadership. The AI Readiness Assessment is also free, but it is a personal, structured introductory conversation about your company. The assessment is also a prerequisite for the (paid) Executive Workshop.
Don't buy new tools. Connect the ones you already have into a system that works.
Smartis connects the business goal, processes, data, existing AI solutions, infrastructure, and governance and oversight into a whole that creates business value and stays under control in the long term.
Request an AI Readiness Assessment