Just as the internet did several decades ago, AI has begun to fulfill its promise and live up to the hype when it’s used in a business setting.
By Steve Karp
For every $1 a company invests in generative AI, the return on investment (ROI) is 3.7x, according to findings from a recent IDC study commissioned by Microsoft and based on a survey of 4,000 business leaders and AI decision-makers around the world. AI deployments take less than eight months on average, the study found, and organizations are realizing value within 13 months. More than 40% of respondents said productivity-related AI use cases provide the greatest ROI.
Business development (BD) is one area in which AI is really proving its value, helping companies in a variety of industries perform key activities and workflows more efficiently, with more precision, and less guesswork. As a result, they’re accessing more opportunities and winning more of the right projects with the customers they most covet. That, in turn, is translating into a faster time-to-value on their AI investments, and most importantly, better BD outcomes and bottom-line results for the organization.
What kinds of AI tools and use cases are proving most valuable or showing the most promise for BD teams? Here are several, based on the actual hands-on experience of organizations in my company’s customer base:
We’re at the point where AI can in fact very effectively handle these responsibilities, driving massive qualitative and quantitative improvements in the initial proposal drafting phases. When companies apply these tools, our own customer data shows that they can reduce average proposal drafting time by 70% and cut proposal-generation costs in half, while boosting proposal capacity 15-20% — all without increasing headcount or compromising win rate.
Numbers like this suggest that when businesses deploy it in the right use cases, AI in its various forms is demonstrating value and justifying the hype by lifting organizations in measurable, sustainable ways.
About the Author:
Steve Karp is Chief Innovation Officer for Unanet, a Northern Virginia-based software company that provides enterprise resource planning and customer relationship management solutions for organizations in the government contracting, architecture, engineering, construction and professional services markets.
Jeff White, leader of Robinson+Cole’s Manufacturing Law and Aerospace Supply Chain teams, and one of the most respected voices in the manufacturing world today, discusses the implications of tariffs becoming a permanent fixture, supply chains under constant stress, and technology transforming how companies operate. Jeff works with clients around the globe helping them navigate market access, growth, and disruption. He shares candid insights on how manufacturers can adapt to workforce shifts, embrace innovation, and stay competitive in a rapidly changing landscape. 🎧 Tune in to learn how to not just survive—but thrive—in today’s era of disruption.