27/05/2025
article

How should business leaders approach the AI revolution?

The development of artificial intelligence has moved beyond mere hype and into our everyday lives. It’s no longer a future phenomenon but part of today’s business landscape – challenging each of us to rethink how we lead companies, serve customers, and build competitiveness. Whether you’re on the management team, part of the board, or an entrepreneur, it’s crucial to take the transformation brought by AI in the workplace seriously. How, then, should business leaders approach this transformation? What does AI actually mean in practice, and what does it require from day-to-day operations? In this blog post, we summarize the most important points.

AI is not just technology – It’s a strategic agent of change

The AI revolution doesn’t merely affect the IT department or a single tool used by the company. It permeates corporate strategy, leadership, and the skill sets needed for success. AI is often viewed as a technical matter, but from a business leader’s perspective, it is fundamentally about:

 

  • Identifying new opportunities
  • Preserving and strengthening competitiveness
  • Enabling the organization to adapt quickly in a changing environment

 

It’s worth asking, “Where might AI genuinely streamline our operations? Could we improve the customer experience, develop new services, or automate routine tasks?”

 

Decisions can no longer be deferred: now is the time to take the first steps

Predicting the future is difficult, but preparing for it is possible. People often wait for complete information or a perfect plan before acting. When it comes to AI, this mindset can be detrimental – change is happening quickly, and the most important thing now is to start taking practical steps.

 

This could involve running a small pilot within one team, discussing AI with employees, or seeking strategic advice from an external expert. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about getting started.

 

A business leader’s role is to spark discussion, define direction, and encourage experimentation. AI won’t remain separate from the business – it must integrate naturally and support the organization’s core mission.

 

“This isn’t about the future anymore – AI already impacts nearly every industry. Companies don’t need an all-encompassing AI strategy planned out for years. More important is to begin harnessing AI and learning from it.”

– Matti Petteri Pöntiö

 

Toward a shared understanding: the roles of management and staff in AI adoption

Embracing AI often entails cultural change. Management must create room for experimentation and learning, ensuring that the entire workforce is included in the conversation. AI adoption shouldn’t appear as a top-down directive but rather as a collective opportunity.

 

It’s less about what the technology can do than about what we humans want and can accomplish with it. This makes openness, dialogue, and a culture of experimentation especially important.

 

Suunta.ai: A practical tool for strategic AI adoption

When employing AI, it’s essential to choose solutions that drive both strategic and day-to-day change. That’s where Suunta.ai comes in – a platform created for companies that seamlessly integrates AI into everyday operations and strategic planning.

 

Using Suunta.ai, you can produce and maintain your company’s critical strategic documents. Suunta.ai learns your organization’s goals, brand, and values and can apply these in a chat-based environment. Its answers are built around your company’s strategic core, so teams receive guidance and ideas that align with long-term objectives. Instead of being an isolated tool, AI becomes a central part of daily collaboration and decision-making.

 

In other words, Suunta.ai saves significant time, simplifies decision-making, and ensures that strategic priorities spread throughout the entire team – without AI usage becoming a cumbersome, separate project.

 

Where to go from here?

If AI raises more questions than answers, you’re in the right place. Asking questions is the first step toward gaining new insights. The next steps may differ across organizations, but here are a few suggestions:

 

  • Identify one or two areas where AI can bring clear added value to your business.
  • Start a conversation within your organization: what do various teams think about AI?
    • Challenge both your own perspectives and those of your team, recognizing that technology evolves rapidly – and viewpoints can become outdated just as quickly.
  • Try it out in practice – a small pilot can provide valuable lessons.
    • Explore multiple platforms or solutions to find the best fit for your organization.
  • Seek external support if needed – you don’t have to answer every question on your own.

 

The AI revolution has already begun, and the time to hop on board is now. Feel free to get in touch if you’d like to continue the discussion – we’re happy to help you find the next steps best suited to your organization’s needs.