Executives today face a simple but high‑stakes question: where does AI create real, near‑term business value without requiring multi‑year transformation? The Enterprise AI & Cloud Value Index is designed to answer that question with clarity, structure, and repeatability.
Across industries, five use cases consistently deliver the fastest time‑to‑value. They require manageable data foundations, integrate cleanly into existing workflows, and produce measurable outcomes within months—not years. These use cases also scale well, making them ideal entry points for organizations building their AI roadmap.
This brief outlines the top five, why they work, and how leaders can adopt them with confidence.
1. AI‑Assisted Customer Support
AI‑assisted support consistently ranks as one of the fastest paths to measurable ROI because it improves both cost efficiency and customer experience without requiring deep system overhauls.
Why It Delivers Fast Value
AI copilots and virtual agents can be layered on top of existing CRM and ticketing systems. They reduce handle times, improve first‑contact resolution, and free human agents to focus on complex issues. The value is immediate because the workflow already exists; AI simply accelerates it.
Where Enterprises See Impact
- Faster response and resolution times
- Reduced operational load on support teams
- More consistent and accurate customer interactions
- Improved customer satisfaction and retention
Executive Lessons
- Start with high‑volume, repeatable inquiries.
- Use AI to augment agents before automating end‑to‑end interactions.
- Measure value through deflection rates, handle time reduction, and customer satisfaction improvements.
Next Step
Deploy an AI assistant trained on existing knowledge bases and support transcripts. Expand coverage as accuracy and trust increase.
2. Intelligent Document Processing
Every enterprise runs on documents—contracts, invoices, forms, purchase orders, compliance reports, and operational records. AI‑powered document processing delivers rapid value because it replaces slow, manual, error‑prone tasks with automated extraction, classification, and summarization.
Why It Delivers Fast Value
Document workflows are often bottlenecks. AI removes friction by turning unstructured content into structured, searchable, and actionable data. Cloud‑based models make deployment fast, and accuracy improves quickly with feedback loops.
Where Enterprises See Impact
- Faster processing of invoices, claims, and contracts
- Reduced compliance risk through consistent interpretation
- Lower operational costs in back‑office functions
- Improved data quality for downstream analytics
Executive Lessons
- Prioritize document types with high volume and high manual effort.
- Integrate AI outputs directly into existing ERP or workflow systems.
- Use human‑in‑the‑loop review to maintain accuracy and trust.
Next Step
Start with one document type and scale horizontally across functions once the workflow is stable.
3. Sales and Marketing Productivity Copilots
Sales and marketing teams adopt AI quickly because the value is immediate: better targeting, faster content creation, and more productive teams. These copilots enhance—not replace—existing systems like CRM, marketing automation, and content platforms.
Why It Delivers Fast Value
AI copilots accelerate tasks that already exist: writing outreach, analyzing accounts, attracting more leads, generating proposals, growing pipeline, and identifying opportunities. They reduce cycle times and increase pipeline velocity without requiring new infrastructure.
Where Enterprises See Impact
- More personalized and relevant customer outreach
- Faster proposal and content creation
- Improved forecasting and pipeline visibility
- Higher productivity per seller or marketer
Executive Lessons
- Focus on workflows that slow down revenue teams.
- Use AI to standardize best practices across regions and teams.
- Track value through cycle time reduction and pipeline acceleration.
Next Step
Deploy AI copilots inside existing CRM and marketing tools to support daily workflows, not replace them.
4. AI‑Enhanced Analytics and Decision Support
Executives often struggle with slow, fragmented reporting. AI‑enhanced analytics solves this by generating insights, summaries, and recommendations directly from enterprise data. This use case delivers fast value because it builds on existing dashboards and data warehouses.
Why It Delivers Fast Value
AI reduces the time required to interpret data, generate insights, and make decisions. It also democratizes analytics by enabling non‑technical teams to ask questions in natural language and receive clear, actionable answers.
Where Enterprises See Impact
- Faster decision cycles
- More accurate and consistent reporting
- Reduced dependency on specialized analysts
- Better alignment across teams and business units
Executive Lessons
- Start with a narrow set of KPIs tied to strategic priorities.
- Ensure data quality is sufficient for AI‑generated insights.
- Embed AI directly into BI tools to increase adoption.
Next Step
Deploy natural‑language analytics copilots that sit on top of existing dashboards and data warehouses.
5. Workforce Productivity and Knowledge Management
Knowledge workers spend significant time searching for information, drafting documents, and navigating internal systems. AI copilots dramatically reduce this friction by providing instant answers, summaries, and content generation.
Why It Delivers Fast Value
This use case requires minimal integration. AI copilots can be deployed through chat interfaces, productivity suites, or enterprise search tools. The value compounds quickly because every employee benefits.
Where Enterprises See Impact
- Faster access to institutional knowledge
- Reduced time spent on administrative tasks
- Higher quality and consistency of internal documents
- Improved onboarding and cross‑team collaboration
Executive Lessons
- Focus on high‑friction workflows like research, drafting, and internal communication.
- Use AI to standardize templates, processes, and best practices.
- Track value through time saved and quality improvements.
Next Step
Deploy an enterprise knowledge copilot connected to internal documents, wikis, and communication platforms.
Patterns Across All Five Use Cases
Across industries and functions, these use cases share common characteristics that make them ideal for fast adoption and measurable ROI.
1. They build on existing workflows
AI accelerates what teams already do, reducing change‑management friction.
2. They require manageable data foundations
These use cases rely on operational data, documents, and existing knowledge—not complex, multi‑system integrations.
3. They scale horizontally
Once one team adopts AI successfully, adjacent teams can replicate the pattern.
4. They produce measurable outcomes
Executives can track improvements in cycle time, accuracy, productivity, and customer experience.
5. They create momentum for broader AI adoption
Quick wins build confidence, unlock budget, and establish internal champions.
How Executives Should Prioritize These Use Cases
To accelerate time‑to‑value, leaders should take a structured approach to prioritization.
Step 1: Identify high‑friction workflows
Look for processes with high manual effort, long cycle times, or inconsistent quality.
Step 2: Assess data readiness
Ensure the data required for the use case is accessible, clean enough, and governed.
Step 3: Start with augmentation, not automation
Use AI to support teams first. Automation can follow once trust and accuracy are established.
Step 4: Measure outcomes early
Define success metrics tied to business value, not technical performance.
Step 5: Scale through repeatable patterns
Once a use case proves value, replicate the workflow across teams and regions.
Conclusion
These five use cases consistently deliver the fastest time‑to‑value across industries. They are practical, repeatable, and grounded in real enterprise workflows. They also create the foundation for broader AI adoption by delivering measurable outcomes quickly.
For executives building their AI roadmap, these use cases represent the most reliable starting points—high‑impact, low‑friction, and aligned with the realities of enterprise operations.
They are the backbone of the Enterprise AI & Cloud Value Index because they demonstrate a simple truth: AI creates value fastest when it accelerates the work your teams already do.