Moving AI Projects From Pilot to Production and Determining ROI

Research from Gartner’s 2023 analysis highlights the challenge of moving AI projects from pilot to production – a reality that applies to small businesses buying off-the-shelf tools just as much as enterprises building custom solutions. The gap between purchase and productivity is where money disappears.

What else could you do with that money?  You can break down AI subscription costs and compare with real implementation expenses to determine when AI pays off and when it doesn’t.

What’s the biggest mistake small businesses make when calculating AI ROI? Ignoring opportunity cost.  An AI tool might save five hours monthly – but what if hiring a part-time specialist for the same budget would save 20 hours and deliver higher-quality work?

That question and these:  What’s a reasonable AI budget for a small business with under $1 million in revenue? How long should I test an AI tool before deciding if it’s worth keeping? Should I invest in multiple specialized AI tools or one all-in-one platform? – are all addressed in the following article.

How Much Do AI Tools Actually Cost? A Small Business ROI Calculator