AI strategies that drive success in insights
By Hannah Mann, Founding Partner at Day One Strategy
The integration of AI into business processes is no longer a futuristic vision; it’s a present-day reality that forward-thinking leaders must embrace. AI has the potential to revolutionise operations, boost efficiency, and generate transformative insights. However, its implementation requires a careful approach to ensure it is used strategically and ethically. This article explores key opportunities, challenges, and best practices for insight leaders, as they embark on their AI journey.
Opportunities for AI in business
AI has opened up incredible opportunities to work smarter, not harder, and tap into creativity we didn’t know we had. Initially, many companies—ours included—saw AI as a tool to boost efficiency. But what we’ve learned is that its real magic lies in helping our team level up, filling gaps in skills and bringing new perspectives to the table. For instance, it’s been a game-changer for things like drafting reports, proposals, or even thinking outside the box on tricky challenges. When it comes to working with clients, AI has helped us become more agile, giving us quicker access to richer insights and fresh ways of looking at data. We’ve found it especially valuable when tackling complex problems where creativity and speed are essential.
Practical applications of AI
Internally, we use AI tools like ChatGPT Teams to automate repetitive tasks and accelerate strategic thinking. Whether refining questionnaires, creating content, or exploring frameworks for recommendations, AI enhances efficiency across our operations. Bespoke AI powered tools like Discuss.io and Coloop also allow us to quickly analyse data, providing new perspectives that might otherwise go unnoticed.
On the client side, we’ve had great success creating AI agents tailored to specific needs. One recent project really stood out for us. We partnered with a client to explore how they could position themselves as leaders in their field. Traditional methods would have focused solely on gathering customer feedback. However, using AI agents trained to emulate innovative thinkers such as Elon Musk, Indra Nooyi, and Steven Bartlett, we generated many more ideas, which were then validated with customers. This approach not only saved time but elevated the quality of insights.
Beyond ideation agents, we also use behavioural science agents to analyse transcripts and conduct initial data analysis for message testing and concept development. Competitor intelligence agents provide rapid insights into market trends, enabling us to offer more contextualised advice and recommendations.
Impact on roles and the workforce
One common concern about AI is its impact on jobs. While AI can handle routine tasks, it cannot replace human creativity, intuition, or critical thinking. Instead, it enhances roles, allowing employees to focus on strategic, high-value activities. However, to remain relevant and be able to do this, teams must develop skills in AI oversight and also learn which tools to implement and when.
Staying current in a rapidly evolving field
The fast pace of AI evolution requires leaders to stay informed. We’ve found that the best way to stay ahead is to keep learning—whether that’s joining any one of the free webinars or virtual conferences available online, diving into platforms like Day One’s AI Navigator, or just keeping up with industry leaders on LinkedIn.
Another strategy is exploring innovations beyond your sector. For example, studying how retail or finance uses AI can inspire new applications in healthcare. Even mass market podcasts such as ‘The Diary of a CEO’ can offer valuable big-picture perspectives, you just have to find the right episodes to listen to!
Additionally, attending start-up demos or keeping an eye on emerging tools via LinkedIn can uncover hidden gems that give you a competitive edge. Don’t me too quick to dismiss those outreach emails, often these are small, innovative companies doing things the big guys have not yet even thought of!
Advice for insight leaders
We often get asked – where do you start with AI, how do you know what to focus on? Our advice and experience would suggest the following:
- Start strategically: Map out workflows to identify areas where AI can create the most value. My suggestion would be to focus on your clients’ needs and what will make the most difference to them (rather than you) first!
- Focus on the value AI can bring: Clients care about the benefits AI delivers, not the technology itself. Frame solutions around outcomes such as improved brand positioning, higher ROI, or streamlined decision-making. And when it comes to AI jargon, leave that to the techies as no one understands it anyway!
- Encourage experimentation: Encourage your team to experiment and not be afraid to try out new tools—it’s often in the trial-and-error stage where the real magic happens.
Guardrails and watchouts for AI
While AI offers immense opportunities, it comes with risks. One major challenge is hallucination—AI’s tendency to generate false information. Human oversight is essential to maintain accuracy and credibility. Bias in AI systems is another concern, particularly in healthcare, where diverse perspectives are critical. Leaders must remain vigilant about identifying and mitigating biases in outputs. For insight businesses, compliance with regulations like GDPR is non-negotiable. At Day One, we’ve developed a checklist to assess new tools, which includes criteria such as data storage, usage policies, and response times from vendors. The list of risks, considerations and KPI’s changes as the tech evolves, so never think you are ever done!
Conclusion
AI is a transformative tool, but like any technology, its success depends on strategic implementation. By identifying opportunities, fostering innovation, and addressing challenges, leaders in the insights sector can harness AI to drive innovation and deliver superior insights. As the field evolves, staying curious and informed will be key to maintaining a competitive edge. To learn more about leveraging AI in pharmaceutical insights, contact us at Day One. We’d be more than happy to showcase the latest innovations and use of AI Agents to clients working in pharma insights and marketing.