Trace3: Getting AI’s First Mile and Last Mile Right, Podcast

“Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.” In this Technology Reseller News podcast, Ben Prescott, Head of AI Solutions at Trace3, discusses why successful AI adoption depends on getting both the “first mile” and the “last mile” right. Trace3 is a technology and consulting organization that helps enterprises adopt new technologies and transform business operations. Prescott works within the company’s digital consulting group, focusing specifically on AI strategy and implementation. The “first mile,” Prescott explains, is about definition: understanding what the organization is actually trying to accomplish with AI, where the opportunities are, and which business problems are worth solving. The “last mile” is about adoption. Once an organization has selected or built an AI solution, it still has to change workflows, educate users, drive adoption and demonstrate that the investment is creating value. “The first mile is about where and when AI can provide value,” Prescott says. “The last mile is about influencing change and actually squeezing the juice out of the investment.” Between those two points sits the technology itself—software, infrastructure, cloud services and increasingly AI-focused hardware. Prescott says infrastructure matters, but it should be connected to a clearly defined business objective. That discipline is becoming increasingly important as enterprises struggle with AI sprawl. Employees may already be experimenting with unsanctioned tools, while organizations are simultaneously evaluating multiple platforms, infrastructure investments and governance policies. Trace3 recommends that organizations identify core AI platforms, establish acceptable-use policies and create a structured process for evaluating employee and business demand. Prescott says the market has also shifted from experimentation toward measurable value. Organizations that rushed into AI investments are now asking harder questions about duplication, cost and return. “We’re getting to the stage where value matters more than it did over the last couple of years,” he says. The approach applies across commercial enterprises, government, defense and other sectors. While security and regulatory requirements may vary, Prescott says the underlying discipline remains the same: define the problem, choose the right technology, drive adoption and measure the outcome. His advice to organizations beginning or expanding their AI programs is to resist the pressure to move too quickly. “Take a more methodical approach,” Prescott says. “Build the process, develop the muscle memory, and then you can move faster.” Visit Trace3.com to learn more.