The article, authored by Teresa Olszewska, Vice President and Head of Sales at SAP Poland, reflects on discussions from the SAP NOW AI Tour Poland 2025, which is the largest annual gathering of the SAP ecosystem. It addresses the current trend in Polish business to quickly adopt new technologies like artificial intelligence under the pretext of pilot projects aimed at impressing management. However, AI cannot be treated like any traditional application; it requires a more profound transformation in operational processes and decision-making approaches.

Olszewska highlights the seductive promise of AI to boost productivity but warns that it acts like a bright light that illuminates weaknesses within existing business processes. Many companies' operational difficulties stem from fragmented processes and reliance on low-quality data. Moreover, she points out that a prevalent belief persists in the industry that such transformational changes are only achievable by large corporations with unlimited budgets, which creates a misconception about the reach of AI capabilities.

Ultimately, the article serves as a call to action for businesses of all sizes to rethink their approach to technological adoption. Rather than viewing AI as a plug-and-play solution, companies are encouraged to evaluate their own operational maturity and readiness for such technological integration. The implications are significant: organizations must be willing to invest the time and resources necessary to strategically harness AI's potential, ensuring that it genuinely contributes to operational excellence rather than being another fleeting trend.