Data Readiness Is the New Business Competency, Says PPI President Raymond Sheen The sudden rise of generative tools, from conversational agents to image generators, has pushed AI into daily workflows. Yet, many companies are still unsure how to progress from occasionally utilizing AI tools to leveraging them for a transformative strategy.

The conversation around artificial intelligence (AI) has shifted from curiosity to urgency in the business world. Enterprises are no longer wondering if they should adopt the technology, but how. Still, while the promise of AI is immense, confusion, anxiety, and skepticism surround it. Product and Process Innovation, Inc. (PPI), a consultancy focused on operational transformation and strategic execution, acknowledges this reality and helps companies move toward meaningful, data-driven innovation.

The sudden rise of generative tools, from conversational agents to image generators, has pushed AI into daily workflows. Yet, many companies are still unsure how to progress from occasionally utilizing AI tools to leveraging them for a transformative strategy.

"They're overwhelmed by the noise," says PPI President Raymond Sheen. "They're uncertain of what solutions truly matter and are paralyzed by indecision about where to start. Many executives also feel immense pressure to act, and I believe it's largely because of the fear of being left behind."

Sheen adds that it's not unlike the early days of the dot-com era, when every company rushed to launch a website without any concrete plan for how it would support the business. "That same reactive mindset is reemerging, and the risks are mounting high, from falling behind competitors to being completely obsolete," he states.

The digital transformation expert, with over 30 years of experience, stresses that what makes the AI boom different from previous tech waves, however, is its pace. "There's no grace period this time," Sheen remarks. "Businesses that wait for the technology to mature before engaging with it may already be too late."

Indeed, companies adopting AI at scale are pulling ahead. A BCG research shows that AI leaders outperform peers with 1.5 times higher revenue growth. Meanwhile, McKinsey's AI survey reveals that companies integrating AI into workflows report higher earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) impact.

This isn't a distant future. It's now. The problem, according to Sheen, is that many organizations confuse AI tools with AI strategy. "Using a chatbot to draft marketing copy or generate graphics isn't the same as reengineering how a business functions," he says. "Real transformation begins with an integrated, enterprise-wide strategy that aligns AI initiatives with business objectives."

Such a strategy requires data. "We're not talking about generic internet data or scattered spreadsheet reports. It's the structured, historical, and contextual data that reflects a business's unique workings," Sheen remarks. This is where companies typically hit a wall. They want to leverage AI but lack the digital infrastructure and organizational habits to support it. Without operational data, AI becomes little more than a novelty.

Sheen argues that businesses must begin treating their internal data as a strategic asset, not as a byproduct of operations. That means investing in the systems and culture necessary to collect, store, and protect data now, even if full AI implementation feels like a distant goal. After all, data lost today may be impossible to recover tomorrow, especially in operational environments where real-time performance is critical.

Recognizing these obstacles, PPI is launching a dedicated AI consultancy service. It's designed to guide companies through the nuanced journey of AI readiness. Sheen notes that the program was born out of a growing volume of client inquiries around AI. Conversations that once focused on project management or product development now include pointed questions such as, "How do we actually implement AI in our business?" In response, Sheen has developed a proprietary consulting framework grounded in strategic planning tools adapted specifically for digital transformation.

PPI's new offering presents a modified business model canvas, an approach that helps clients assess their entire value stream, from suppliers to end customers, through a digital lens. It forces hard but necessary questions: Where is data currently being generated? Where are the gaps? What systems are in place, and which parts of the business are ready for transformation? With this map, companies can begin crafting a tailored roadmap for AI that prioritizes their goals while building the foundation for long-term agility.

The service begins with the basics: understanding one's business, auditing their digital footprint, and identifying where strategic data collection must start. This can include upgrading legacy OT systems, integrating sensors, or simply shifting their mindset toward data as an asset.

Overall, AI isn't a plug-and-play solution. It's a journey that demands foresight, patience, and commitment. For businesses that delay, the cost is competitive obsolescence. Sheen reminds enterprises: "Companies thriving a few years from now will be the ones that began preparing their data, aligning their systems, and embedding AI into their operations starting today." PPI stands as a reliable partner in this landscape.