𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐀𝐈 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡

As a PM, I've written and read probably 100s of Business Cases over the years. A classic Business Case has clear ROI projections, detailed timelines, predictable outcomes and explicit success criteria.

BUT what I've learnt through my AI journey is that traditional business cases don't fit the realities of AI projects.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐈 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭? 𝐀𝐈 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 

Unlike SaaS platforms and conventional software, AI systems learn and evolve as they interact with new data. This means that AI systems become more valuable over time as they learn from your data. 

That chatbot deployed today might deliver 3x more value in Year Two as it understands your customer better. 

That simple recommendation engine could transform into your biggest competitive advantage. 

𝐔𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐫: Models may need retraining, and unexpected data patterns or biases can emerge. Models evolve, data patterns shirt, and unexpected insights emerge. Rigid plans won't work and leaders need to create a safe space for iteration, learning and adaptation.

𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: The benefits of AI extend far beyond immediate efficiency gains. AI can enhance customer experiences, enable entirely new offerings, and set your brand apart in the market. AI may offer benefits that don't always easily and directly translate to line-item savings, but do drive longer-term growth. 

𝐑𝐎𝐈 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲: That 15% efficiency gain in month one might become 45% by month twelve as the system learns and optimises. 

𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐈

𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐎𝐈:  Show how the AI initiative advances your core business objectives, whether that’s customer retention, operational efficiency, or market leadership.

𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐬: Design pilot projects that demonstrate tangible value within 3 - 6 months, then use these wins to justify further investment.

𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: AI isn't a project you complete, it's a capability you build. Factor in continuous improvement, monitoring and governance from day one.

𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐀𝐈 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬:

💡 Redefining how you measure value and success

💡 Creating a culture of experimentation and learning

💡 Investing in robust data and governance foundations

💡 Communicating transparently about both risks and opportunities

💡 Building strong change management capability across the entire organisation

Have you had to write a Business Case for an AI project? What strategies helped you get buy-in?