Alex Miguel Meyer on linkedin

tgroenwals shared this post · May 6

Alex Miguel Meyer

50% of SMEs are stuck in Phase 1.

Another 30% are stuck in Phase 2.

That's 80% of companies that bought AI tools and got nothing back.

Here's why:

They skipped the ladder.

AI adoption isn't a tool decision.

It's a 4-phase climb.

Skip a phase and the gain disappears.

Phase 1: Foundation
Executive ownership of outcomes. Strategy tied to business goals.
Honest readiness audit before tools are bought.

Phase 2: Enablement
Clean data. Governance guardrails.
2 to 3 high-impact pilots running in parallel.

Phase 3: Execution
Workflows redesigned around AI, not bolted onto old ones.
Change managed directly. Training tailored by role.

Phase 4: Scale
AI champions on every team. KPIs beyond accuracy.
Continuous course-correction. Operating model shift.

The pattern is clear:

The companies winning at AI aren't using better tools.

They're moving through the phases with discipline.

Foundation first. Enablement second. Execution third. Scale last.

Skip a phase and you start over.

The advice I give my clients:

Stop asking "which AI tool should we adopt?"

Start asking "which phase are we actually in?"

That's the question that unlocks the next 12 months.

Which phase is your company stuck in?
⬇️ Let me know in the comments

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Micheal Akinbowale Most just get AI tools, paid for it and abandoned it later, Instead of getting the one that is most needed at the phase of their business. May 6

Tom Waite This breakdown explains why so many AI initiatives stall. Most teams rush into tools without doing the uncomfortable work in Phase 1 and 2. May 6