Artificial Intelligence
Leverage AI for Strategic Advantage
Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into your business is no longer a choice or “nice to have.” It’s a binary decision between staying competitive and becoming obsolete.
Winning companies leverage artificial intelligence not just for efficiency gains but to fundamentally improve their operations and create new revenue streams and business models. Conversely, organizations that disregard AI do so at their own peril, following in the footsteps of once-dominant companies like Blockbuster and Kodak.
Ignoring artificial intelligence entirely or not using it effectively brings significant risks: loss of customers and competitive advantage, missed opportunities seized by tech-savvy competitors, untapped revenue streams and operational inefficiency, to name a few. The imperative is clear: Any strategy that doesn’t incorporate AI is a losing one.
Wherever you are on the AI spectrum, L.E.K. can help. We’ve partnered with companies like yours to transform their operations through innovative solutions, from revolutionizing business models to predicting pandemics. Let us help you leverage AI potential to achieve powerful results and drive your business forward.
Artificial intelligence consulting that accelerates your AI integration objectives
Using AI for productivity or efficiency gains is beneficial but not sufficient, as other competitors will do the same. Winning companies recognize that a comprehensive digital strategy, which includes AI, is essential for achieving their business goals. For instance, L.E.K.’s Enterprise Digital Impact Study reveals that 37% of firms claiming success with their digital transformation efforts are specifically using digital techniques to enhance their customers’ experiences and another 30% are using digital to improve and create new product and service offerings.
So, where do you start? Integrating AI might seem like a tall order, but focusing on key areas can drive significant value. Below are some critical areas where AI integration can make a substantial impact:
Generative AI opportunities for business
| Potential opportunity | Example |
|---|---|
| New revenue streams | Unlock new products or services, including access to AI systems and new, unique content |
| Customer acquisition and retention improvement | Enhance communications with potential and existing customers through greater targeting, personalization and response time. |
| Product and services enhancement | Enhance the core business product or service through design generation, allowing greater customization, personalization or improvements in quality control. |
| Cost reduction | Reduce cost through increased productivity and/or automation within the business or within the supply chain |
| Process transformation and reorganizations | Optimize business systems and process to integrate seamlessly with generative AI solutions |
| Process automation | Gain cost efficiencies through automation of routine, repetitive back-office tasks |
| Competitive advantage building | Gain a sustainable competitive advantage through the ownership of proprietary algorithms, models or data |
We define the separation between winning and losing in today’s market by the “AI Delta” — the critical gap between companies that effectively harness AI and those that don’t. As we help businesses integrate AI technology into their operations, we examine their individual AI Delta to pinpoint where value can be created or lost over the next decade and beyond. Companies that develop competitive advantage experience remarkable growth, while those that lag see their value diminish (see figure).
Figure: AI Delta transformation
Bridging its AI Delta requires a company to not only challenge how AI can make the company more efficient but also how it can make it more competitive and, how it can help unlock new business opportunities. Using the individualized AI Delta as a jumping-off point, we help you create tangible strategies with investments in specific technologies and capabilities aligned with your long-term goals. You’ll move from merely riding the transformation wave to creating a strategic plan fueled by AI technology. Success requires not only a well-defined strategy but also a comprehensive transformation plan that enables you to adopt AI and execute your business objectives effectively.
Executive Insight: The AI Delta
To gain a deeper understanding of AI Delta, please see our recent Executive Insights: The AI Delta: How Artificial Intelligence Is Rewriting the Rules of Modern Business. 
Our AI experts: Your partners in AI strategy and transformation
We go beyond traditional strategy development with end-to-end AI solutions, from strategic planning to implementation and ongoing optimization. We ensure AI is a core component of your business transformation.
Our experts work with you to identify high-value AI opportunities, implement tailored solutions and seamlessly integrate problem-solving capabilities into your operations. For example, our Analytical Sciences team turns raw data into actionable intelligence, which uncovers patterns and trends that can drive your AI strategy. By ensuring every decision is data-driven and future-focused, we help you stay ahead in the competitive landscape.
The AI revolution is here, and doing nothing isn’t an option. Contact us today to explore how our AI solutions can transform your business. To get started, explore the key questions we address to guide your AI integration journey.
Video: Will Your Firm Bridge the AI Delta?
Alan Lewis discusses how AI accelerates revenue, productivity and cost reduction, but warns that failure to embrace AI could lead to significant losses. Find the Gap
Successes across a diverse range of enterprise AI use cases
Assessing the impact of Gen AI on legal services
A leading provider of legal, regulatory, and business information sought to assess generative AI's impact on the legal market. Through workflow analysis and task categorization, we identified key opportunities for AI-driven disruption. We also developed a strategic roadmap, enabling the client to prioritize investments for future growth and market adaptation. 
Realizing a projected $350M in annual cost savings
A leading North American EPC firm aimed to become AI-driven, struggling with fragmented data. L.E.K. Consulting redesigned their analytics model and data collection, aligning AI capabilities with strategic goals. The transformation roadmap projected over $350M in annual cost savings by optimizing data and AI solutions, boosting profitability and growth.
Using AI to embed new levels of automation and adaptability
A global agribusiness partnered with L.E.K. Consulting to enhance its supply chain through AI. After analyzing workflows, data, and technology, we identified and prioritized over 20 improvement opportunities. We also provided our client with a comprehensive plan, including a three-year roadmap, to implement AI solutions and strengthen supply chain performance.
Supporting an emerging biopharma to build out AI with confidence
A mid-sized biopharma company developing innovative medicines sought to expand its drug discovery efforts using AI. L.E.K. Consulting assessed AI use cases across the value chain, creating a strategic roadmap with tactical initiatives. The client received a clear plan to gain leadership approval, enhancing its AI-driven drug discovery and growth potential.
Unearthing the monetization opportunity of AI in publishing
A global publishing company sought to explore monetization opportunities for AI using their content for large language model (LLM) training. L.E.K. Consulting analyzed LLM training dynamics and identified potential revenue models. The client received a comprehensive monetization strategy, enabling them to capitalize on AI-driven opportunities and establish a foundation for industry-wide compensation for content used in AI training.
