ROI: c-level advice for implementing AI in companies and generating real results

The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) has been pointed out as a watershed for companies seeking to innovate and optimize their operations. Its use has grown significantly in recent years, with 72% of global companies adopting the technology in 2024, compared to 55% in 2023, according to the McKinsey “The state of AI in early 2024”. 

“I see a very strong focus on understanding how to impact AI in business and measure return on investment (ROI)”, comments Tavane Gurdos, General Manager of Alura For Business. “Success is not just about adopting AI, but mainly about identifying areas where it can generate tangible impact. You cannot solve all the challenges at once, you need to evaluate strategically so that the results are significant and bring efficiency, scale and customization gains “, he comments.

According to the perception of leaders from different sectors, the path to maximizing the potential of AI requires planning, focus and a culture of continuous learning.Find out below, the secrets and key advice of successful C-levels in applying AI in their business:

Tavane Gurdos, General Director of Alura For Business

“For those who wish to successfully apply Artificial Intelligence in their companies, it is essential to understand exactly where it can add value to the business, avoiding the bet on projects that are not strategic, as well as identifying areas with greater potential impact, such as personalization of experiences or automation of critical processes. Adopting an experimental mentality, with learning cycles, tests and adjustments, is equally crucial, as well as investing in the training of teams to ensure an effective use of technology. AI will only be a powerful ally if there are people prepared to use it. Investing in the development of teams is as essential as investing in technology itself. It is not enough to implement AI; it is necessary to teach how to extract the maximum from it, Tavane highlights.

Giulia Braghieri's, Senior Director of Global B2B Business Development NotCo

“Adopting AI is no longer optional.We are in the midst of a technological revolution comparable to the emergence of the internet in the 2000s, but with one difference: the evolution of AI happens exponentially. The longer a company postpones this journey, the greater the competitive gap will be compared to those who have already advanced. If you are starting, I suggest starting with small projects and scalable tools. In addition to adopting specific tools, it is important to foster an environment that integrates AI in day to day and promotes an organizational culture with a “AI-first” mentality, this means encouraging experimentation, continuous learning and strategic use of data.

Marcelo Mearimco-founder and CEO of Sofya in Brazil

“Currently, the main challenges in adopting artificial intelligence include the lack of structured data, internal resistance to change and integration with legacy systems.To overcome them, one must invest in the standardization of data, adopt pilot projects that demonstrate rapid results and build a data-driven culture, with trained and engaged teams.In addition, it is important to focus on strategic use cases, such as reducing costs and improving the customer experience, as well as establishing partnerships and planning scalability. Ignoring data preparation or focusing on technology without solving clear problems are very common mistakes. AI must be used strategically and constantly revised”, says Mearim.

Julio Viana's, real estate market specialist and CEO of Plaza“The adoption of artificial intelligence still faces barriers, mainly due to the need to overcome the technology acceptance curve, but this is overcome with clear communication about its benefits and the commitment of leadership at all levels. AI should be treated as a new employee who needs initial training to integrate with company processes, ensuring more consistent results from three to six months. The ideal is to start with specific areas, evaluate the impacts and gradually expand, focusing on the overall positive return, even in the face of initial adjustments and learnings. This strategic approach is what maximizes the value of technology in the long term”, advises Viana.