EN
EN DE

Author: Daniel Brückmann

  • AI Maturity Staircase

    AI Maturity Staircase

    From Initial Excitement to Real AI Success: How to Strategically Navigate Your AI Journey

    "This changes everything." was our first thought.

    ChatGPT launched and quickly became the fastest-growing IT product of all time. It immediately became clear that this technology would have profound implications for our lives.

    Many of our clients felt the same with their initial AI pilot projects—generative AI in customer service, sales, or product development. However, initial excitement often gave way to uncertainty: "Is this actually good enough yet? What happens with our data? Where exactly should we invest?"

    At digital rapids, we frequently hear these stories. Often, successes remain isolated because there's simply no time or resources dedicated to developing a solid strategy. That's why it's worth considering a step-by-step approach. Despite today's complexity and uncertainty, AI can become a significant driver of growth if strategically integrated into your business.

    Take Small, Structured Steps Towards Your Larger AI Vision!

    Our approach at digital rapids resembles climbing a staircase, step by step. The first step involves ad-hoc experimentation—trying things out without a clear vision, budget, or roadmap. Sounds messy, but that’s okay! On the next step, you start introducing structures, consolidating data sources, and clarifying initial responsibilities. It may seem straightforward, but even these tasks pose challenges for many companies. After all, tech teams usually have more tasks than time, and understanding new technology requires dedicated effort.

    By the third step, your perspective expands. Now you begin addressing critical questions such as:

    • "How will AI impact our supply chain?"
    • "Where can we further automate production?"
    • "How do we upskill our workforce effectively?"

    This stage often calls for dedicated project management with strategic vision—or external support when internal capacities are limited.

    By the time you reach steps four or five, AI is deeply embedded in your company's core operations. You transition from isolated experiments to broad, enterprise-wide applications. Imagine machinery manufacturers evolving into proactive service providers, using AI-powered maintenance contracts to alert customers about needed improvements or replacements before issues arise. Customer care teams integrate AI agents, virtually eliminating wait times and boosting customer satisfaction. Internally, AI empowers development teams, significantly enhancing their productivity and innovation capabilities.

    How to Get Started on Your AI Journey

    If you are just beginning with AI, start by identifying who will drive this topic in your company. Often, an "AI Champion" or a small task force with access to necessary data is enough to ignite momentum. Focus on targeted, small-scale projects with tangible benefits rather than numerous scattered trials. Evaluate your existing data (such as orders, production workflows, or service inquiries) and current bottlenecks. Usually, it quickly becomes clear where AI can have the most significant impact.

    digital rapids frequently steps in at these crucial moments as an interim partner, helping clients create roadmaps to ensure pilot projects translate into lasting successes. Together, we develop structured plans tailored specifically to your available resources, data situation, and strategic goals. AI can indeed be more than just high-tech experimentation—it can become the cornerstone of your digital transformation.

    Investing now—whether in education, data management, or building an effective AI team—creates a significant competitive advantage. Perhaps soon, you'll be the one who successfully transitions from initial AI excitement to firmly embedding this technology within your business, creating new opportunities, satisfied customers, and fostering a spirit of innovation.

    If you're currently contemplating how to elevate your pilot project to the next level, reach out to us..

    We enjoy collaborating with you to shape your roadmap because one thing is clear: AI is part of the future, and those who embrace it today will thrive tomorrow.

  • Digitale Strategie in vier Wochen – Der digital rapids Navigator

    Digital strategy in four weeks - The digital rapids navigator

    How to get your digital strategy on track in just four weeks: A Look Inside the Navigator Framework

    Have you ever had the feeling that your digital teams are constantly busy yet stuck in place? Often, this happens because business goals have been communicated but haven't made their way into daily operations. The company vision might be clear, but the path toward it remains vague. Projects drag on because nobody truly understands how strategic priorities translate into everyday decisions. The result: too many projects started, escalating costs, and limited measurable impact. Companies frequently try to address this through strategy workshops. However, without solid data, clear guidelines, and broad involvement, these sessions often conclude with good intentions but minimal results.

    Effective strategy development is more than an offsite meeting—it requires a structured process that connects concrete success factors with operational details. This creates a shared direction, guiding daily activities throughout the organization. That's precisely what the four-week digital digital rapids Navigator is designed to achieve. Instead of endless discussions, we offer structured workshops, data-driven analysis, and a roadmap that truly moves you forward. In just four weeks, your vague vision transforms into a tangible action plan. Best of all, the Navigator specifically addresses medium-sized businesses ready to break free from endless analyses and workshops and start making meaningful progress

    How does it work?

    The digital rapids Navigator is a four-week strategy process designed to help medium-sized businesses develop and implement a clear digital strategy. Our framework combines structured workshops, data-driven analysis, and pragmatic decision-making to ensure efficient and sustainable transformation.

    Each week has a specific focus, building step-by-step toward a solid foundation for lasting digital success.

    • Week 1 – Analysis

      Everything starts with interviews, document reviews, and data analysis. This phase creates a clear understanding of your current status and identifies key action areas. This preparation ensures future decisions are fact-based and transparent.
    • Week 2 – Strategy Development

      Using workshops based on the "Playing to Win" approach, we define key strategic questions together: Where does your company compete? How will you succeed there? This creates a tangible strategy tailored to your core competencies, identifying suitable technological solutions.
    • Week 3 – Target Operating Model and Culture

      Now we transition to practical implementation: clarifying roles and responsibilities and designing a target organization capable of responding quickly and flexibly to change. We emphasize fostering a digital culture that promotes innovation and continuous learning.
    • Week 4 – Implementation Planning

      Finally, we perform a gap analysis to identify remaining differences between your current and desired states. From this, we create a prioritized roadmap, providing clarity on the journey ahead and how to reach your goals.


    By the end of these four weeks, you won't just have a clear strategy—you'll have a concrete roadmap for your digital transformation, complete with defined roles, responsibilities, and timelines.

    Curious to learn more?

    If you’d like more information about our approach, please reach out to us at: strategy@digitalrapids.de or visit the detail page: digital rapids Navigator

    We look forward to bringing clarity together, so you can effectively translate your business vision into action.