Problem Before Solution

Why 95% of AI Pilots Fail - And How to Avoid That Fate

Research suggests that 95% of generative AI pilot projects fail because teams jump straight to technology without first solving real problems. This isn’t just an AI issue; it’s the danger of any tool-centric approach. Successful adoption begins with clearly defined problems, emphasising principles like “Problem before solution,” “Context creates meaning,” and “Collaboration sustains value.”

NKD Agility helps organisations focus on outcomes by starting with real problems, not tools. Our AI Opportunity Discovery & Context Sourcing service embeds a problem-first mindset and structured, team-driven prioritisation-ensuring that technology serves your business needs, not the other way around.

Are you chasing AI hype without clear problems to solve?

Are you investing in tools before understanding the outcomes you need?

Are you building solutions in search of problems?

Ready to focus on real problems? Let’s identify what truly matters.

Book a Discovery Call

Pain Points We Eliminate

Technology-First Thinking

Jumping to AI or other tools without understanding the underlying problem leads to wasted investment and failed initiatives.

Misaligned Teams & Unclear Priorities

When teams lack clarity on what problems they’re solving, collaboration breaks down and efforts scatter.

Vendor Hype & Tool Obsession

Falling for marketing promises rather than focusing on your specific business challenges creates expensive distractions.

Initiative Failure & Low ROI

Tool-centric mindsets, whether AI, DevOps, Scrum, or Agile, often deliver negative results because they skip the crucial step of problem definition.

Lost Stakeholder Confidence

When projects fail to deliver meaningful outcomes, trust erodes and future initiatives become harder to fund.

“95% of generative AI pilot projects fail because teams jump to technology without solving real problems. The same pattern repeats across all tool-centric initiatives-only a problem-first approach delivers sustainable success.”

Benefits of Focusing on Real Problems

Aligned Teams & Clear Direction

When everyone understands the problem, collaboration becomes purposeful and teams move in the same direction.

Clarity on Investment Returns

Problem-focused initiatives deliver measurable outcomes, making it easy to demonstrate ROI and secure ongoing support.

Faster Learning & Delivery

By starting with the problem, you eliminate wasted effort on irrelevant solutions and accelerate time to value.

Increased Stakeholder Confidence

Delivering solutions to real problems builds trust and credibility with leadership and customers.

Reduced Risk & Better Outcomes

Understanding the problem first ensures you invest in the right solutions, dramatically reducing failure rates.

Purposeful and Trustworthy AI Adoption

Focusing on clear problems ensures that AI adoption remains purposeful and trustworthy. Rather than chasing technology trends, you build solutions that address genuine business needs and create lasting value.

How NKD Agility Helps You Solve Real Problems

Identify and articulate real business problems
Capture context to create shared understanding
Prioritize problems based on business impact
Create actionable roadmaps aligned to outcomes
Apply problem-first principles to every initiative

Reduce anxiety from tool-centric chaos
Feel confident you're solving the right problems
Trust that investments align with business needs
Experience clarity instead of confusion
Build momentum through meaningful progress

Lead with problem-focused strategy
Champion outcome-oriented initiatives
Secure stakeholder buy-in with clear problems
Represent your organization as evidence-based
Mentor teams on problem-first thinking

Success Through Problem-First Thinking

Organizations that start with problem identification see dramatically higher success rates in their AI and digital transformation initiatives.

Teams applying problem-first principles report better alignment, clearer priorities, and more sustainable outcomes.

Clients using our AI Opportunity Discovery ) approach successfully avoid the 95% failure rate by focusing on context and real business problems.

Want to see real examples?

Explore Case Studies

Why NKD Agility?

We don’t sell tools or chase trends. We help you solve real problems.

Our proven AI Opportunity Discovery capability ensures your initiatives start with clear problems-delivering sustainable success, not just temporary hype.

From tool obsession to problem clarity

From technology-first to outcome-focused

From scattered efforts to aligned action

Ready to solve real problems instead of chasing tools? Schedule a Call

What else do you get?

Explore our comprehensive range of services and capabilities designed to empower organizations and teams. With our expert solutions, you can efficiently address and resolve immediate challenges, driving success across your operations.

Engineering Excellence

Elevate your engineering practices to world-class standards that deliver exceptional software quality, maintainability, and innovation.

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Technical Leadership

Cultivate technical leaders who combine deep expertise with human skills to guide teams, drive innovation, and deliver exceptional results.

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Develop Leaders

Clarity in Technology Roadmaps

Eliminate confusion with strategic technology roadmaps that connect technical decisions to business outcomes and guide teams toward success.

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Clarify Your Roadmap

Cross Functional Alignment

Break down silos and unite departments around shared goals to deliver cohesive customer value and drive organizational success.

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Align Your Teams

Culture Transformation and Team Enablement

Evolve your organizational culture from command-and-control to empowered, adaptive teams that drive innovation and exceptional results.

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Upskilled Engineering Teams

Enable capable engineers to grow into confident, effective contributors through structured practice.

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Upskilled Engineering Teams

Executive and Stakeholder Buy-In

Transform sceptical leadership into committed champions through strategic alignment, clear ROI demonstration, and proven engagement strategies.

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Secure Leadership Support

Reduced Risk Increased Stability

Transform uncertain deployments into predictable releases through disciplined engineering practices that proactively address potential failures.

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Build Stable Systems

Seamless DevOps Migration

odernize your delivery pipeline without disrupting business operations through strategic migration that delivers value from day one.

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Faster More Predictable Software Delivery

Eliminate delivery bottlenecks and uncertainty with engineering practices that improve flow, shorten lead times, and maintain quality at scale.

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Our Happy Clients

We partner with businesses across diverse industries, including finance, insurance, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, technology, engineering, transportation, hospitality, entertainment, legal, government, and military sectors.