Six out of ten AI projects fail to achieve their objectives. Not because the idea was bad, but for a reason that is rarely checked beforehand: the underlying data was never ready. That is Gartner’s forecast for AI projects up to and including 2026, and it is exactly the sort of risk you can spot in advance, if you know where to look.
Most organisations don’t realise this. Not because they aren’t working on AI, but because they aren’t AI-ready!
What exactly is AI readiness?
AI readiness is not simply a question of “do you use AI, yes or no?”. It is the extent to which an organisation is ready to deploy AI in a structured and responsible manner, across strategy, data, people and regulation. And that difference is measurable: according to Deloitte, organisations that formulate and communicate a clear AI strategy are 1.5 times more likely to achieve their intended results.
A team that is simply experimenting with ChatGPT is therefore very different from an organisation that knows what data it holds, who is responsible for AI policy and what the law requires of them.
Why this matters now
- According to Gartner, six out of ten AI projects fail because the data isn’t ready. This is a problem that can be ruled out in advance, but almost nobody does so.
- Of all the ways to derive value from AI, tracking clearly defined KPIs has the greatest impact on profitability, according to McKinsey. Fewer than one in five organisations do this.
- Only 7% of Dutch business owners are fully aware of the EU AI Act, whilst fines can amount to 35 million euros or 7% of global annual turnover.
Waiting for things to “become clear of their own accord” is not a strategy. It’s procrastination that comes at a price.
What does work?
First, work out where you stand; only then can you determine what you need. That sounds obvious, but in practice most organisations skip this step. They buy a tool or undertake training without first having a full picture of the situation: strategy, data, technology, people and risks.
That is precisely why we have developed the AI Readiness Scan: a brief assessment that identifies where an organisation stands and provides practical advice on the next step.
Knowledge is not a luxury. It is the starting point.
Becoming AI-ready doesn’t start with a tool. It starts with honestly assessing where you stand, before you end up among the six out of ten rather than the four. Take the scan, discover where the opportunities lie, and discuss the next concrete step with Hidde and Jesse.
Please feel free to get in touch with our AI consultants
06 41 90 56 14 · jesse.van.den.dikkenberg@sourcemonks.nl
06 38 62 68 91 · hidde.koedoot@sourcemonks.nl
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