Designit: How Telcos Can Unlock Long-Term Value Through AI

2026-05-29 · Source: AI Magazine · Field: Business & Management — Corporate Strategy & Leadership, Operations & Process Management, Consulting & Professional Services · Depth: Intermediate, quick

Summary

A global survey by Designit, Wipro's experience innovation company, reveals that the telco industry often missteps in AI adoption by focusing on superficial metrics. The research, gathering insights from global design and telecom professionals, found that 43% believe rolling out AI too quickly is the biggest mistake, followed by viewing AI purely as a cost-cutting tool (32%), and poor data readiness (14%). Despite recognizing the need for fundamental business shifts, only 11% of respondents prioritize organizational redesign. Designit's Insights and Strategy Design Director, Jakob Voldum, emphasizes that success requires telco operators to redesign workflows, clarify accountabilities, and establish governance and team structures before scaling AI, rather than just automating processes. This approach, exemplified by Designit's collaboration with Dutch telecommunications provider Odido, aims to transform AI into a scalable, cross-functional capability for long-term value.

Key takeaway

For AI/ML Directors or Consultants overseeing digital transformation in telecommunications, prioritizing rapid AI deployment without foundational organizational changes is a critical misstep. You should shift your focus from mere automation speed to comprehensive business redesign, including clarifying workflows, accountabilities, and governance structures. This ensures AI initiatives deliver sustainable, long-term value by transforming capabilities rather than just cutting costs, mitigating the risk of stalled pilots and unmet promises.

Key insights

Telcos often mismanage AI adoption by prioritizing speed over fundamental organizational redesign, hindering long-term value.

Principles

• Hasty AI deployment is a primary risk.
• AI success demands organizational redesign.
• Speed without vision accelerates misalignment.

Method

Implement an embedded studio model, working directly with business and IT teams to integrate AI as a scalable, cross-functional capability, as demonstrated by Designit's collaboration with Odido.

In practice

• Prioritize organizational redesign for AI.
• Clarify AI workflows and accountabilities.
• Establish AI governance and team structures.

Topics

• AI Adoption
• Telecommunications Industry
• Organizational Redesign
• Digital Transformation
• Designit Survey
• AI Strategy

Best for: CTO, VP of Engineering/Data, Director of AI/ML, Consultant, Executive

Related on AIssential

• How an Organizational Shift Can Unlock Real Value from a Stalled AI Strategy - SPONSOR CONTENT FROM PUBLICIS SAPIENT — Integrating AI directly into core operational workflows is crucial for realizing scalable, outcome-driven enterprise value.
• $1 Trillion Gone — AI agents are fundamentally disrupting SaaS and professional services by automating complex tasks, leading to massive market cap losses.
• Rethinking organizational design in the age of agentic AI — Organizations must undergo "agentic business transformation" by redesigning tech, workforce, and metrics to fully integrate AI agents.
• The AI Disruption Window Is Closing. Fast. — The AI disruption window is closing, demanding rapid adoption and experimentation to gain an advantage.
• Your AI Transformation Will Collapse by Month 8. Here is the 5-Stage Framework That Prevents It — Rushed, top-down AI transformations often fail due to lack of strategic planning and stakeholder buy-in.
• You’re not late to AI—you’re early to Frontier Transformation — AI transformation demands redesigning work within specific functions, driven by leadership sponsorship and an adaptive culture, not merely tool adoption.

Open in AIssential →

Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by AI Magazine.