Why Some Organizations Are Scaling AI While Others Are Still Experimenting

Why are some organizations successfully scaling AI while others remain stuck in pilot projects? Explore the key findings from the MIT Technology Review Insights report and learn why connected systems, integration and operational maturity are essential to unlocking AI at scale.

Download the full report

Artificial intelligence has quickly become a strategic priority, yet many organizations continue to struggle to move beyond isolated pilots.

A new MIT Technology Review Insights report, produced in association with Celigo, reveals that meaningful AI adoption is no longer theoretical. In fact, 76% of organizations surveyed have at least one AI workflow fully deployed in production.

So, what separates the leaders from everyone else?

AI performs best when built on proven processes

Organizations are seeing the strongest results by applying AI to well-defined, established business processes. Nearly 43% report success when applying AI to well-defined, already automated processes.

“For commerce organizations, AI will only be as powerful as the systems and data behind it. Shopify gives merchants the flexibility to build modern commerce experiences, but the real value comes when commerce, ERP, CRM, PIM and operational systems work together. As both a Shopify and Celigo partner, Novatize helps manufacturers, distributors and retailers create the connected foundation they need to turn AI from experimentation into measurable business impact.”

- Pierre-Olivier Brassard, Co-founder, Novatize

The lesson is clear: successful AI starts by enhancing operational foundations, not replacing them.

For a deeper perspective on how leading B2B organizations are preparing their product data for AI, listen to François-Jérôme Gosselin’s conversation with Justin King on The B2B eCommerce Show.

AI is becoming a business initiative, not just an IT project

Despite AI’s growing importance, only 34% of organizations have dedicated teams responsible for maintaining AI workflows.

In most companies, AI ownership is shared across IT and business teams, highlighting a broader shift: scaling AI requires collaboration across the organization, not just technical expertise.

AI integration success depends on more than technology. Learn how leading organizations align their teams in our Unifying B2B eCommerce, Marketing and Sales report.

Integration is the foundation of AI success

Perhaps the most compelling finding is the role of integration.

Organizations using an enterprise-wide integration platform are five times more likely to build AI workflows that leverage diverse data sources. Nearly 60% connect five or more systems into their AI initiatives, compared to just 11% of organizations relying on isolated integrations. These organizations are also more likely to deploy AI across multiple departments, automate more complex workflows, and express greater confidence in expanding AI autonomy over time.

However more than AI itself, the real limiting factor for B2B organizations is the ability to connect systems and make data accessible. This is one of the key findings from our latest State of B2B Commerce research, conducted in partnership with B2B Online Insights, where 45% of organizations identified integration complexity with their existing technology stack as the single greatest barrier to broader AI adoption.

Discover the key findings from our State of B2B Commerce research.

Download the full report

This is exactly where Novatize comes in. We help manufacturers, distributors and retailers unify their systems, data and business processes to build the connected foundation required to turn AI into measurable business outcomes.

See how we’ve helped organizations build connected commerce ecosystems.

For commerce leaders, AI depends on connected systems

For manufacturers, distributors and retailers, AI is only as valuable as the systems and data behind it.

Connecting your eCommerce platform with your ERP, CRM, PIM, OMS, and operational systems creates the foundation AI needs to deliver accurate insights, automate decisions, and improve customer experiences at scale.

As organizations move beyond experimentation, the competitive advantage won’t come from AI alone, it will come from the strength of the connected digital ecosystem that powers it.

Download the full MIT Technology Review Insights report to discover how leading organizations are building the operational foundation required to scale AI successfully.