Uncovering Hidden Revenue: AI Meets the Double Diamond Framework

In short: AI is transforming how we approach strategic discovery and execution. By leveraging the Double Diamond framework, you can combine internal and external data to pinpoint opportunities, uncover risks, and prioritize actions. From aggregating data to refining strategies and enabling team objectives, this AI-driven process helps you stay ahead of market shifts, align teams, and unlock hidden revenue. The key? Using AI to turn data into actionable insights that drive smarter, faster decisions.

FROM DATA OVERLOAD TO STRATEGIC CLARITY

The Double Diamond Framework has long been a staple in Design Thinking. It was popularized by the design thinking community since the mid 2000s (Design Council, 2022), and it builds on the works of Guilford (1956).

But what happens when you supercharge it with AI?

Today, companies are drowning in data – but not all data leads to actionable insights. The new leap in making data actionable is about connecting internal and external data effectively and crafting intelligence from it with algorithms.?

By blending internal metrics with external signals and using AI to connect the dots, businesses can uncover hidden opportunities and craft strategies with precision.

At 180ops we've taken the AI-augmented Double Diamond Framework in use and apply it to make strategy design and change management smarter, faster, and more impactful:

STAGE 1: AGGREGATE DATA

Before discovery, we lay the foundation by integrating internal and external data. Combining company metrics with outside-in factors (e.g., credit ratings, market trends) ensures a robust, holistic dataset.

STAGE 2: DISCOVER INSIGHTS

With AI processing tens of millions of data points, we reveal key drivers of risks and opportunities. Whether identifying revenue sources, segment dynamics, or readiness to adopt new offerings, this phase answers two critical questions: Where’s the money? and What matters most?

STAGE 3: DEFINE STRATEGY

Here, human expertise takes the lead. Insights from previous stages inform strategic segmentation, portfolio analysis, and long-term planning. This phase is about defining direction—clarifying vision, goals, and actionable OKRs (Objectives and Key Results).

STAGE 4: DEPLOY EFFECTIVELY

Strategy comes to life as teams align their objectives with data-backed insights. Teams receive tools to define, measure, and refine their goals, ensuring organizational alignment and readiness to meet growth targets.

STAGE 5: LEARN AND ADAPT

Continuous feedback is essential. AI tracks market and customer changes, offering early signals to guide adaptation. From shifts in customer willingness to buy to changes in competitive landscapes, this iterative process fosters a culture of transparency and shared learning.

WANT TO LEARN MORE? Read our deep-dive blog post about the topic: Next Generation Intelligence - AI-augmented Double Diamond

THE MAGIC: COMBINING INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL DATA

To make better sense of customer and market needs, companies are increasingly turning to external data – like industry reports, financial data, and credit histories—which when combined with internal data, offers a deeper, more comprehensive view of customer behavior and business potential.

By analyzing external changes – such as shifts in debt rates, employment trends, or company leadership – businesses can more accurately target offerings and fine-tune their strategies. Crucially, external data can be segmented by speed, ranging from real-time updates to more static sources, enabling companies to react quickly to evolving market conditions.

The new area to dive into is about curation of external data that delivers the most value when combined with internal data.

REAL-TIME INSIGHTS FOR A DYNAMIC WORLD

Unlike consumer data, B2B insights are often easier to access and act upon. From company financials to operational shifts, the speed of data availability varies, but its relevance is clear: actionable intelligence helps teams navigate complex markets with precision.

SEE IT IN ACTION

Want to see how 180ops works with the combination of internal and external data to find your best potential and growth? Book a demo today and see where your true growth lies.

CRO digest ? best practices, tech & real talk about revenue from 180ops – your B2B revenue intelligence platform from the Nordics.