Mar 25, 2025
80% of AI Projects Fail. Here’s How to Be Part of the 20% That Succeed.
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is full of promise. It’s supposed to optimize operations, boost sales, and cut costs… But how many companies end up investing thousands (even millions) in AI projects that end up forgotten?
According to a recent study, over 80% of AI projects fail. Why? Poorly defined objectives, lack of usable data, lack of strategic vision… The result? Investments with no impact, and growing distrust in AI.
Let’s be honest: poorly targeted AI is just an expensive gadget. Thoughtful AI, on the other hand, becomes a powerful lever capable of accelerating growth and optimizing every department of the company.
So how do you identify an AI project that creates real value and tangible ROI?
AI: A Powerful Tool… But Not a Magic Wand
Before jumping into development, it’s crucial to understand what AI actually does. Contrary to popular belief, it can’t solve everything. But it excels in six key areas:
- Create: Generate content, code, images, reports.
- Categorize: Structure documents, emails, customer feedback.
- Predict: Forecast demand, detect anomalies, anticipate trends.
- Group: Organize data, segment clients, optimize workflows.
- Suggest: Recommend products, personalize user experiences.
- Optimize: Streamline supply chains, HR processes, equipment maintenance.
If your challenge doesn’t fit within one of these categories, chances are, AI isn’t the solution.
Is Your Business Ready for AI? Find out by answering these questions.
Now that you understand what AI can truly do, how do you know if it can address your specific business challenges? Here are some questions to ask before investing:
- Are your teams spending too much time analyzing data to make decisions?
- Are you losing valuable time on repetitive or manual tasks?
- Do you face recurring inventory issues (stockouts or surpluses)?
- Are there times when machines or employees are inactive?
- Are human errors causing financial or operational losses?
- Are production bottlenecks slowing you down?
- Are key decisions being made subjectively when predictive models could offer better guidance?
Behind every “yes” is a chance to optimize — and that’s exactly where AI excels. It transforms inefficiencies into opportunities for growth.
The Vooban Approach: An Innovation Sprint to Identify the Right Project
Every organization faces the same constraints: limited time and budget. Yes, some companies have internal teams that can launch multiple proofs of concept (PoCs) to test ideas. But for most businesses, each project matters. That’s why getting it right from the start is critical. A strategic approach increases your chances of success while minimizing wasted time and money.
At Vooban, we’ve developed a structured Innovation Sprint to help identify and prioritize the right digital transformation projects. In just six workshops with your key stakeholders, we clarify your goals, assess your challenges, and outline a concrete action plan.
Here’s how it works:
1. Problem Exploration: We start by clarifying your business goals and identifying barriers to success.
2. Complexity Analysis: We classify challenges by their level of difficulty, to better define the scope.
3. Project Categorization: We translate challenges and opportunities into concrete AI projects.
4. Project Prioritization: We assess each project’s potential to create a clear, effective roadmap and focus on the most promising initiatives.
This sprint helps you avoid costly detours and build a roadmap that aligns with your operational reality.
Why Good Targeting Makes All the Difference
We recently partnered with Command Alkon, a global leader in industrial software for the concrete industry, who wanted to improve the precision of cement dosing in their systems. The goal? Reduce material waste while maintaining product quality.
By integrating an AI model capable of automatically adjusting the moment the trapdoors closed based on more than a dozen variables, the solution led to a 1% reduction in cement usage.
In just three months, that translated to 565 tons of cement saved, avoiding 480 tons of CO₂ emissions – equivalent to 409 cars removed from circulation. And that’s just the beginning. As more clients adopt the solution, the environmental and economic impact continues to grow.
AI, Yes… But Not at Any Cost
Want to avoid an expensive and ineffective AI project? Let’s talk. Our experts will help you identify real opportunities and build a project that delivers measurable ROI.
Companies that successfully integrate AI increase their productivity by an average of 40%. Are you ready to be part of that 20%?
