Delaying AI adoption creates hidden costs for businesses.
Key takeaways
Pilot projects offer low-risk, high-impact ways to show AI’s value and build internal momentum.
Structured planning with readiness assessments and governance frameworks helps AI initiatives succeed.
Artificial intelligence is no longer a luxury—it’s a requirement for staying competitive. Organizations that delay AI adoption are feeling the pressure, from rising costs to talent attrition to loss of market share.
The silent profit leak
When companies hesitate on AI, they often underestimate the cumulative impact of inaction. The cost of doing nothing isn’t just theoretical—it’s revealed in operational inefficiencies, missed revenue opportunities and declining employee engagement.
Here are the most common issues:
- Rising costs: Manual processes and inefficiencies compound over time. AI-enabled competitors are streamlining operations, reducing overhead and reallocating resources to higher-value activities.
- Loss of market share: Faster, more personalized, AI-powered services are winning over customers. Middle market firms that delay AI implementation risk losing ground to more agile competitors.
- Talent retention challenges: High-performing employees expect to work with modern, efficient tools. Without AI, companies risk losing top talent to more technologically advanced employers.
Companies know they need AI, but often don’t know where to start. That’s where pilot projects and structured planning come in.
Reaping AI dividends
According to the RSM Middle Market AI Survey 2025, 50% of respondents said AI saved them time on IT projects, 45% saw reductions in data analytics time and 39% reported improvements in customer service efficiency.
These aren’t abstract benefits—they’re tangible returns across critical business functions.
But many organizations remain stuck in analysis paralysis. They’re waiting for perfect data, perfect governance or perfect clarity. Meanwhile, their competitors are executing.
Adopting AI doesn’t require massive, high-risk investments. In fact, some of the most effective starting points are small, targeted initiatives that deliver measurable value quickly.
Pilot projects fall into two categories: internal cost-saving pilots and revenue-generating pilots.
Internal cost-saving pilots
These initiatives improve efficiency and reduce overhead:
- Agent assistance in customer service: AI supports live agents with real-time recommendations and knowledge retrieval
- Employee onboarding: AI streamlines orientation, training and access provisioning
- Finance collections: AI agents automate outreach for overdue payments, improving cash flow
- Tech support: AI handles routine help-desk tasks, freeing up IT staff for strategic work
Revenue-generating pilots
These projects enhance customer experience and drive growth:
- Self-service and cross-sell: AI enables personalized recommendations and seamless transactions
- Order-entry support: AI automates purchasing workflows, reducing friction and increasing conversion
These pilots help departments experience AI firsthand, building internal momentum and demonstrating value without major disruptions.
Building the foundation
While pilot projects drive momentum, structured planning ensures sustainability. Companies can pair execution with these foundational steps:
- Readiness assessments: Evaluate data maturity, process suitability and workforce preparedness
- Governance frameworks: Establish clear policies for ethical, compliant AI use; these guardrails protect the organization while enabling innovation
It’s important to strike a balance. Governance should support—not stifle—progress. Too much strategizing without action leads to missed opportunities. Encourage innovation, then surface it so you can govern AI properly.
- Ask each department to build one AI agent. Whether it’s onboarding in human resources, collections in finance or provisioning in IT, start small and build momentum.
- Track outcomes and iterate. Use pilot results to inform the broader strategy.
- Establish governance in parallel. Don’t wait for perfection—build structure as you go.
This dual-track approach allows innovation to flourish while maintaining control. It’s a practical way to move forward without falling behind.
The takeaway
AI is reshaping industries. Waiting to adopt is not a neutral decision. It’s a strategic risk that can erode competitive advantage, increase costs and hinder growth.
If your organization hasn’t started its AI journey, now is the time to assess your readiness and explore initial pilots. Every day of inaction widens the gap between you and the leaders in your industry.
RSM contributors
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Jeff LovettDirector
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