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Getting Ready for Automation and AI: Five Key Areas to Focus On

  • Writer: RedCloud
    RedCloud
  • Oct 2
  • 3 min read

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At RedCloud, we believe that preparing your organization for automation and AI is not just about technology. It is about setting up the right foundation across your people, processes, and tools. Our readiness model breaks down into five key areas that, together, help you understand your current standing and where to focus next.



1. Organizational Change Management (OCM) Process Maturity  Change can be tough, especially when new tech is involved. This area examines how effectively your organization’s processes facilitate smooth and predictable change. When your processes are solid and repeatable, it is easier to roll out automation and AI at scale without surprises.


2. Understanding AI and Its Potential  AI can sound mysterious, but it is crucial that your teams get what it can do, especially in their own day-to-day work. This means everyone should be able to spot good opportunities to apply AI that actually make a difference.


3. AI Tools and Infrastructure  Having the right tools matters. This is not just about owning cool software, but also about ensuring your teams have easy and safe access to the AI platforms they need, and knowing where gaps might be so you can close them.


4. Putting AI to Work  It is one thing to have AI tools, but are you truly utilizing them to enhance operations and informed decisions? This area examines the extent to which AI is integrated into your daily work and its impact on helping teams perform more effectively.


5. Treating Data as a Strategic Asset  Data is the fuel for AI. This area assesses how well your data is organized, collected, and utilized to generate insights. When data is handled strategically, it empowers your transformation teams to become trusted advisors and leaders in your business.


What We’re Seeing in the Midwest and South Utilities Sector


Our research across a dozen utilities shows strong potential but also some clear gaps:

  • Data as a Strategic Asset: Many use dashboards but still face fragmented data. Centralizing and real-time reporting can unlock smarter planning and better insights.

  • OCM Process Maturity: Organizations are starting to formalize change management. Focusing on core processes will help scale transformation with more consistency.

  • Understanding AI: Interest is growing, but basic knowledge is still low. Targeted education can help teams move from curiosity to confident AI use.

  • Access to AI Tools: Access is limited, and policies are outdated. Expanding availability will reduce the risk of experiments and accelerate adoption.

  • AI in Action: Early pilots show promise, but most teams are just getting started. Leading the integration of AI tools into daily work will drive real results.


Looking Ahead


For utilities ready to embrace AI and automation, the best approach is steady and intentional progress. Building basic AI literacy, ensuring safe access, and aligning efforts with clear strategy are the stepping stones to success.


Transformation offices have a unique chance to lead this shift from isolated projects to company-wide coordination. New capabilities already demonstrate what is possible — connected tools that break down silos, reveal overlapping efforts, and turn data into actionable foresight.


By integrating AI into everyday work and aligning changes with broader strategic objectives, organizations can enhance performance and unlock genuine value. The message is clear: those who start building now will lead confidently into a future powered by smart, intelligent transformation.Contact us today to learn more.


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