How to get the most out of cloud-based AI solutions

Organizations naturally avoid making long-term investments during leaner economic times, but in the wake of the AI revolution they also can’t afford to let their IT infrastructure fall out of date.

That’s because in the age of generative AI, modern IT infrastructure will quickly go from a nice-to-have to a matter of survival. Though still in its infancy, AI is already providing tremendous value to early adopters, and analysts are confident that its impact will only continue to grow.???

For example, Gartner predicts that within the next three years 10% of all customer support functions will be handled by technology, not people, saving companies roughly $80 billion per year. Researchers also found that coders using generative AI enjoyed a 55% boost in productivity.

Fortunately, organizations don’t need to break the bank to ride the AI wave. Investing in individual cloud-based AI solutions for specific functions can be an affordable way to onboard AI capabilities without investing in an IT infrastructure overhaul.

Out-of-the-box, single-stack solutions like Dialpad offer clients everything they need without the cost and complexity of building and managing their own AI platform. In fact, Gartner estimates that cloud spending will rise 70%, to reach a total of $917 billion, over the next three years, surpassing traditional IT infrastructure solutions like data centers.

Realizing the value of cloud-based AI solutions for customer service, sales, recruitment, and other core functions doesn’t necessarily require a significant capital investment, but it does require partnering with the right provider. Here’s how to find the one that best suits your needs.

Focus on ROI

With so much excitement around its future potential, many shopping for AI solutions can lose sight of their more immediate needs. The first step to successfully onboarding a cloud AI application that delivers value is to develop a clear definition of your short-term goals and expected outcomes, with a specific focus on how it will solve real problems for your business today.

Assess your starting position

In the race to adopt AI, some organizations have a head start. Before you pursue a cloud-based AI solution, it’s important to assess your current position, with a particular focus on your existing data assets, infrastructure, and capabilities. It’s also important to weigh the internal resources you can dedicate to successful onboarding and implementation.

Compare features

Not all cloud AI solutions are built alike, even within the same product category. Beyond their core functionality, many seek to entice prospective customers with a range of bells and whistles. Some of those features may prove invaluable, while others look better on paper. Before choosing a provider, it’s critical to work with internal stakeholders to determine which features align with your organization’s needs.

Read reviews

Different organizations onboard the same cloud-based AI solutions with different goals in mind. While others may not be able to determine whether a given product will meet your organization’s unique needs, they can offer some insights that are more universal, such as ease of implementation, custom service satisfaction, reliability, and more. When evaluating providers, consider reading several reviews and reach out to existing customers for a more unfiltered perspective.

Ask the right questions

When speaking with a prospective AI cloud provider, it’s essential to do your due diligence and ask the right questions. Some areas to consider discussing include compatibility, data security, infrastructure requirements, onboarding processes, customer service practices, common challenges, and reasonable timelines.