AI, Tools and Transformation

Large enterprises juggle thousands of software assets—core systems like SAP and Workday, myriad SaaS tools, and countless scripts and spreadsheets—often without clear visibility into usage or cost, leaving many repetitive tasks unaddressed. While generative AI can create automation tools in minutes without coding, the author argues that most workers are not tool-builders and rarely recognize automation opportunities, making widespread AI-driven transformation unrealistic without dedicated “forward-deployed engineers” who can identify and redesign hidden, embedded problems.