Cloud-Service Provider

Defining an AI-driven futures strategy for a large cloud service provider

Overview
In partnership with Sorai, we worked with a large cloud service provider to define how artificial intelligence should shape its next generation of enterprise applications. The organisation had strong foundations but needed a clearer, future-facing strategy to translate AI into scalable customer value.

 

Approach

We led the AI workstream within a broader strategy programme, contributing research, trends analysis, and AI opportunity design.

  • Current state assessment
    Reviewed existing AI capabilities, platform architecture, and adoption challenges. While AI was embedded across workflows, uptake remained limited and fragmented.
  • Customer and market insight
    Worked closely with a researcher to conduct stakeholder and customer interviews across industries, identifying real needs, adoption barriers, and expectations around ROI and time to value.
  • AI and technology analysis
    Mapped emerging AI trends, including automation, agent-based systems, and human augmentation, to industry-specific use cases.
  • Opportunity development
    Identified and prioritised high-impact AI opportunities, aligned to customer needs and commercial potential.
  • Strategy and roadmap
    Synthesised insights into a clear set of strategic imperatives, solution concepts, and a forward-looking roadmap.

Outcomes and achievements

  • Clear AI strategy
    Defined how AI should evolve from isolated features into integrated, value-driving capabilities.
  • Prioritised opportunity pipeline
    Delivered a structured set of AI use cases and propositions, enabling focused investment decisions.
  • Stronger product alignment
    Connected AI innovation directly to product strategy and customer outcomes.
  • Future-ready roadmap
    Provided a clear direction for developing AI-enabled, next-generation enterprise applications.
  • Organisation-wide alignment
    As part of the wider programme, we brought stakeholders together around a shared vision, increasing momentum and clarity.

 

Key takeaway
The work helped shift AI from fragmented initiatives to a coherent, future-focused strategy, ensuring investments are grounded in customer value, practical adoption, and measurable impact.