The immediate answer would be \u2018let\u2019s start small and iterate, via a Pilot or Proof of Concept\u00a0<\/i>(PoC)\u2019. However, this alone would not be the solution for this classic chicken-and-egg problem. In fact, this may result in organisations getting stuck in the \u2018isolated, small-budget, sandbox, experimentation\u2019 phase, endlessly iterating without progressing, with tight budgets that cannot be unlocked without clear ROI, which cannot be fully appreciated (especially the \u2018cost\u2019 part) before a full-tech exploration and optioneering.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s\u00a0refer to these concepts as the\u00a0\u2018Adoption\u00a0Paradox\u2019\u00a0and the\u00a0\u2018PoC lock\u2019.\u00a0In an unprecedented dynamic environment, characterised by constantly changing requirements, high-risk technologies, ethical and environmental impacts, as well as numerous unknowns, the demand for an agile and business-led approach, rather than a technology-pushed strategy, increases even more.\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.version1.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Adoption-Paradox-PoC-Lock-440x148-1.png\")
<\/p>\n
The big five key requirements<\/h3>\n
How can you overcome the above while still ensuring speed, business value, and considering ethical and environmental consequences?\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
- \n
- <\/b>You need to inexpensively understand the art of the possible \u2013 you cannot innovate without knowing what is really possible<\/li>\n
- <\/b>You need to prioritise something of high value, not to waste resources, and measure its return on investment (ROI) as early as possible<\/li>\n
- <\/b>You need to understand feasibility and cost implications early, even before experimenting \u2013 it does not make sense to experiment on something that may cost billions if productionised<\/li>\n
- <\/b>You need user-centric solutions that align with business requirements \u2013 it does not make sense to invest onto something that has value, but that users won\u2019t use<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Speed is crucial; the cost of delay is the biggest cost nowadays.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s\u00a0the right level of support?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n
If you already have a clear, detailed scope for AI, a rock-solid business case, a feasibility study that shows it\u2019s doable and won\u2019t soon become obsolete, and have gathered the necessary funds, then well done. You have\u00a0the Golden Ticket<\/b>.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.version1.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2.-The-Golden-Ticket-sans-bg-440x224-1.png\")
<\/p>\nHowever, if that\u2019s not the case, \u00a0which is common for most organisations, and you\u2019re struggling to harness the benefits of AI, then help is at hand.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As Head of Cloud Innovation in Version 1\u2019s\u00a0AI Labs<\/b><\/a>, which aims to educate organisations on AI and work with them on their innovation ambitions via experimentation while driving internal R&D to accelerate our and our clients\u2019 AI adoptions. We offer workshops to explain what AI is, how to apply it in your industry, and showcase live demos and accelerators. But here\u2019s the key \u2013 solving the adoption paradox and PoC lock requires more than just knowing what can be done. This is just the first step.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Co-Creation with the Version 1 AI Labs<\/h3>\n
\nMy team specialise in co-creation with customers, focused on user-centric design principles, particularly in applied AI. We drive AI solutions from concepts into practical, business-aligned solutions through collaborative processes prioritising customer needs and strategic objectives.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
How does it work in practice?<\/strong><\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.version1.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/3.-Proof-of-value-440x175-1.png\")
<\/p>\nPhase 1: Understand<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.version1.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/table-1-440x57-1.png\")
<\/p>\nAs a starter, to get to the innovation edge, we conduct a session\u00a0 showcasing cutting-edge AI technologies through real-world use cases and live demos (show not tell) from previous engagements and R&D efforts.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then, by using what we call \u2018Version 1 AI Jigsaw\u2019 we uncover and prioritise use cases based on expected value and tech and data feasibility. This helps us focus on the most promising opportunities. Within one daywe can develop a high-level business case, outlining the expected value, technical complexity, and costs of priority use cases, ensuring efficient resource allocation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
To ensure that the proposed solutions are desirable and user-centric, we employ design thinking methodologies. This collaborative process gathers user insights,\u00a0aligns stakeholders and validates a solution vision.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The outputs of this phase set the foundation for AI adoption by quickly identifying valuable opportunities and validating them with users, ensuring that solutions are both viable and impactful.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Phase 2: Co-Create<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.version1.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Table-2-440x56-1.png\")
<\/p>\nThis is where things get exciting. With a co-created vision for the solution, our experts would then follow the 80\/20 Pareto rule, designing a PoC to validate 80% of the vision with 20% of the effort: timeboxed within max 2 to 4, 1-week, \u2018hypersprints\u2019. This rapid phase involves shaping the design of a PoC that can validate the hypotheses co-created with your organisation. We present this \u2018canvas\u2019 before any development begins, including clear costs, deliverables, and success criteria.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
We then proceed with the Innovation \u2018hypersprints\u2019: one-week iterations with continuous client feedback to realise a solution that users can understand and try first-hand. This accelerated process is boosted by our internal IP accelerators, ensuring quick delivery of a real application that clients can play with and provide feedback on.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The outputs of this phase include the PoC clear terms of reference, hypotheses statement, success criteria, and a custom MVP working application for users to access.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Phase 3: Validate (& Next Steps)<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.version1.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Table-3-440x45-1.png\")
<\/p>\nAt this stage, users can interact with the application with no need for \u2018change management\u2019 or \u2018upskilling\u2019, as they have been part of its actual design and development, by being in close contact with the development team. We, in fact, co-created it. In parallel, we can construct an agile development roadmap, updating the business case based on lessons learned, and user feedback. This includes a plan for production readiness and scaling, providing more detailed information on revenues and costs.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Outputs of this phase include the validated solution, an agile development roadmap, the updated business case, plan for production readiness and scaling:\u00a0A quick, inexpensive, Golden Ticket \u2013\u00a0<\/b>arguably the solution to PoC Lock, and Innovation Paradox.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0Real-World Examples<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\n
Our collaborative approach has significantly impacted various sectors, helping over 30 organisations kickstart AI adoption and solve both the innovation paradox and PoC lock in more than 20 cases, bringing to production solutions at scale. Notable examples include:<\/p>\n
National Museum of Computing and Dyslexia Association<\/i><\/b><\/a>: We developed web applications to enable live hyper-personalisation of content, catering to different audience needs. These tools translate and simplify complex information, making it more accessible and user-friendly, thereby enhancing educational outreach and engagement.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Irish Public Sector Department:<\/i><\/b>\u00a0We designed a cutting-edge web app to automate the generation of functional and technical documentation, crucial for decoding legacy codebases. This innovation facilitates efficient, cost-effective application modernisation, significantly reducing the time and effort required for this critical process.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Version 1 Internal Bid Assistant<\/i><\/b>: To streamline our own processes, we created an internal bid assistant that summarises requirements and accesses historical intel quickly. This tool helps gather vast documentation, summarise requirements, and seamlessly access use cases and case studies, thereby accelerating our response to customer queries and improving the efficiency of our bid processes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
An international company dedicated to sustainable development:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>We developed a domain-specific Virtual Assistant to provide rapid and reliable search capabilities across a vast repository of complex fire-safety regulation documentation. Designed with a human-centred approach, this assistant enables the customer\u2019s professionals to access accurate, up-to-date information much more efficiently, empowering them to make informed decisions and deliver high-quality sustainable development solutions faster.<\/p>\n
A Global Non-Profit<\/strong><\/em>:<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0We created a live translator and simplificator for their website, enhancing accessibility by translating and personalising content based on audience age group and languages. This web app drastically improves the user experience, making complex information more understandable and accessible at a sustainable cost.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
These examples illustrate how our co-creation approach delivers tangible benefits, solving real-world problems and driving AI adoption from proof-of-concept to production, at scale.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
About the Author – Andrea Bureca<\/h2>\n
- <\/b>You need to prioritise something of high value, not to waste resources, and measure its return on investment (ROI) as early as possible<\/li>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.version1.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Andrea-Bureca-Head-of-Cloud-Innovation-435x440-1.png\")