{"id":23399132,"date":"2026-01-27T17:35:01","date_gmt":"2026-01-27T17:35:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/?p=23399132"},"modified":"2026-01-27T17:42:27","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T17:42:27","slug":"ai-adoption-strategy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/ai-adoption-strategy\/","title":{"rendered":"A Proven AI Adoption Strategy for Operationalizing AI: Insights from Brett Schklar"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AI adoption is no longer a question of <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">if<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, but <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">how<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Yet many organizations are stuck. They\u2019ve bought tools, experimented with pilots, and attended webinars, but nothing in day-to-day operations feels meaningfully different.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That hesitation is costly. While some leaders wait for clarity, others are quietly building systems that compound speed, efficiency, and customer experience advantages every quarter.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a recent <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Conquer Local<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> podcast episode, we spoke with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/bschklar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brett Schklar<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, AI adoption strategist and author of <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AI Without the BS<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, about what successful AI adoption actually looks like inside real organizations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Every CEO Needs to Hear This About AI (Before 2026)\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2ceVtqpAX-w?feature=oembed\"  allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Schklar\u2019s work with agencies, SaaS companies, and service businesses reveals a consistent pattern: companies don\u2019t lose to better AI models. They lose to competitors who operationalize AI sooner.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This article breaks down Schklar\u2019s real-world approach to <\/span><b>AI adoption strategy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, using his exact frameworks, examples, and lessons learned from the field, with practical guidance for agencies, franchisors, ISVs, and the SMBs they serve.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">[et_pb_section global_module=\"23397967 \"][\/et_pb_section]<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">TL;DR<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>AI adoption succeeds when leaders treat AI as infrastructure, not experimentation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, starting with culture, workflows, and governance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>The fastest wins come from \u201cAI-ifying the pain\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, automating the most repetitive and resented tasks first.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Measuring Return on AI, not vague ROI, turns pilots into scalable systems<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that leaders can defend and expand.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What Is an AI Adoption Strategy?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An <\/span><b>AI adoption strategy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a structured approach to embedding AI into everyday workflows, customer experiences, and decision-making to deliver consistent, measurable value.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead of isolated tools or short-lived pilots, a strategy answers practical questions leaders face:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Where should AI be used first?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How do teams learn safely?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What guardrails prevent risk?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How do we measure success?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How do roles evolve once work changes?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Schklar puts it plainly: <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIf AI stays a side project, it stays optional. The companies that win make it part of how work gets done.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Quiet Lie Leaders Tell Themselves About AI<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many leaders repeat a familiar refrain:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWe\u2019ll move once things are clearer.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWe\u2019ll wait for the tools to mature.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWe\u2019ll follow once others prove it out.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to Schklar, this mindset misunderstands the moment. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe tools you see today are the slowest and least capable they\u2019ll ever be,\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> he explains. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWaiting doesn\u2019t reduce risk. It funds your competitor\u2019s advantage.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The real divide isn\u2019t between companies with better vision decks. It\u2019s between those who ask:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>\u201cHow do we turn this into a daily, repeatable advantage inside our workflows?\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That question drives action. Everything else delays it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-23399135 size-full\" src=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/ai-adoption-strategy-brett-schklar-quote-1-vendasta.webp\" alt=\"Brett Schklar quote on why delaying AI adoption increases competitive risk\" width=\"1200\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/ai-adoption-strategy-brett-schklar-quote-1-vendasta.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/ai-adoption-strategy-brett-schklar-quote-1-vendasta-300x100.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/ai-adoption-strategy-brett-schklar-quote-1-vendasta-1024x341.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/ai-adoption-strategy-brett-schklar-quote-1-vendasta-768x256.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/ai-adoption-strategy-brett-schklar-quote-1-vendasta-1080x360.webp 1080w, https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/ai-adoption-strategy-brett-schklar-quote-1-vendasta-980x327.webp 980w, https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/ai-adoption-strategy-brett-schklar-quote-1-vendasta-480x160.webp 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Culture, Not Technology, Is the First Real Barrier<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When Schklar works with leadership teams, his first question often surprises them:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>\u201cHave you had an open, honest conversation about AI with your employees?\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most haven\u2019t.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How Silence Creates Shadow AI<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In organizations without clear guidance:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Employees use AI quietly and hide it from managers<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">High performers save hours but never admit it<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Curious team members hesitate, unsure what\u2019s allowed<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Schklar sees this lead to <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">shadow AI<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, where people paste sensitive data into whatever tool is closest. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe biggest risk isn\u2019t bad AI,\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> he notes. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIt\u2019s no rules at all.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Setting the Tone at the Top<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"\/blog\/ai-adoption\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AI adoption<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> accelerates when leaders clearly state:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AI use is encouraged<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learning in public is safe<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sharing wins is rewarded<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once that tone is set, behavior changes quickly. Conversations replace whispers. Teams ask where to experiment safely. Culture moves, and adoption follows.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Start Where The Work Hurts Most<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the most common mistakes leaders make is starting AI adoption with abstract strategy questions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Schklar recommends a different approach he calls <\/span><b>\u201cAI-ifying the pain.\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How AI-Iying The Pain Works<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He asks teams to:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">List 3\u201310 tasks they genuinely hate<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Focus on repetitive, unavoidable work<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rank tasks by resentment, not importance<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ask how AI could automate, shorten, or simplify them<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhen people see a task they hate get easier,\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Schklar says, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cfear disappears. AI stops feeling like a threat and starts feeling like relief.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A Real Example: Email And RFPs<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Schklar shared how he uses an AI tool connected to multiple inboxes to categorize messages and draft replies. He reviews and edits every response, but the system learns his tone over time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>The result?<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">30\u201345 minutes saved per day<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Faster responses to prospects<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Higher close rates driven by speed<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He\u2019s seen similar gains with RFP automation. One sales team went from responding to two or three RFPs per month to 30\u201340 per week after shifting to an AI-first approach.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These aren\u2019t flashy wins. They\u2019re practical, repeatable, and measurable.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why Every AI Strategy Needs a Safe Sandbox<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jumping straight from experimentation to live customer interactions is risky.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYou want to make mistakes,\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Schklar explains, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cjust not where they\u2019re expensive.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What A Safe Sandbox Looks Like<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A strong AI adoption strategy separates environments:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Production:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> live systems, real customers, real data<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Sandbox:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> isolated tools used for learning and testing<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the sandbox, teams can:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Test incomplete prompts<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Push edge cases<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Observe failures and hallucinations<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Define guardrails and refusals<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The goal isn\u2019t perfection. It\u2019s controlled learning.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Platforms like Vendasta make this approach practical for partners by allowing <\/span><a href=\"\/blog\/ai-employee\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AI employees<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to be configured, tested, and refined before they\u2019re deployed across customer-facing touchpoints like chat, voice, or messaging.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Customer Experience Is the New AI Front Line<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AI adoption doesn\u2019t stop at internal workflows. For agencies, SaaS companies, and local businesses, customer experience is where AI becomes visible.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Schklar returns to a simple principle: <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cGood businesses go where their customers already are.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-23399136 size-full\" src=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/ai-adoption-strategy-brett-schklar-quote-2-vendasta.webp\" alt=\"Brett Schklar quote about meeting customers where they already are\" width=\"1200\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/ai-adoption-strategy-brett-schklar-quote-2-vendasta.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/ai-adoption-strategy-brett-schklar-quote-2-vendasta-300x100.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/ai-adoption-strategy-brett-schklar-quote-2-vendasta-1024x341.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/ai-adoption-strategy-brett-schklar-quote-2-vendasta-768x256.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/ai-adoption-strategy-brett-schklar-quote-2-vendasta-1080x360.webp 1080w, https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/ai-adoption-strategy-brett-schklar-quote-2-vendasta-980x327.webp 980w, https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/ai-adoption-strategy-brett-schklar-quote-2-vendasta-480x160.webp 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How AI Creates Better Front Doors<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Well-designed AI systems can:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Answer website questions instantly<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pick up phones when staff are busy<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Guide customers to action without friction<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The objective isn\u2019t replacing humans. It\u2019s clearing away repetitive questions so teams can focus on moments that require empathy, judgment, and expertise.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vendasta\u2019s <a href=\"\/ai-workforce\/receptionist\/\">AI chat and voice receptionists<\/a> are built around this idea. They help partners deploy customer-facing AI quickly, using a business\u2019s own data to deliver accurate, on-brand responses without the complexity of stitching together multiple tools.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Conversation Design, Not Prompt Engineering<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Schklar encourages leaders to rethink how they talk about working with AI.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cPrompt engineering sounds technical,\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> he says. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cConversation design sounds human.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How High-Performing Teams Work With AI<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Effective users:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provide context<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Share constraints<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Give examples<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ask follow-up questions<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Refine over time<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Schklar often uses voice AI while walking his dog, talking through ideas as they form. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI\u2019m not prompting,\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> he explains. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI\u2019m thinking out loud with a system that doesn\u2019t get tired.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-23399137 size-full\" src=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/ai-adoption-strategy-brett-schklar-quote-3-vendasta.webp\" alt=\"Brett Schklar explaining conversational AI as thinking out loud with systems\" width=\"1200\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/ai-adoption-strategy-brett-schklar-quote-3-vendasta.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/ai-adoption-strategy-brett-schklar-quote-3-vendasta-300x100.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/ai-adoption-strategy-brett-schklar-quote-3-vendasta-1024x341.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/ai-adoption-strategy-brett-schklar-quote-3-vendasta-768x256.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/ai-adoption-strategy-brett-schklar-quote-3-vendasta-1080x360.webp 1080w, https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/ai-adoption-strategy-brett-schklar-quote-3-vendasta-980x327.webp 980w, https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/ai-adoption-strategy-brett-schklar-quote-3-vendasta-480x160.webp 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When leaders model this behavior, adoption spreads. AI feels accessible, not intimidating.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Measuring What Matters: Return On AI<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eventually, every AI initiative faces the same question:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What are we actually getting from this?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Schklar recommends measuring <\/span><b>Return on AI<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> across six lenses:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Time saved<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Costs eliminated<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Revenue lift and speed<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Productivity per person<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accuracy improvements<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Client retention<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most organizations already track these metrics. The difference is labeling improvements as AI-supported and tying them directly to workflows.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This clarity helps leaders kill weak pilots quickly and scale the ones that work.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reinventing Roles Before People Disengage<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When AI removes 20\u201340% of the most painful work from a role, leaders face a decision.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Without direction, people either fill time with low-value tasks or worry about job security.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strong AI adoption strategies treat freed-up capacity as a strategic asset. Leaders ask:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What higher-value work should this role now own?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How can relationships deepen?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Where can judgment and creativity expand?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AI changes what work <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">should<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> be, not just how it gets done.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How Vendasta Helps Turn an AI Adoption Strategy Into Scalable Infrastructure<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brett Schklar\u2019s core message is simple: AI adoption only works when it stops living in pilots and starts functioning like infrastructure. Many organizations understand the strategy, but struggle to operationalize it across teams, clients, and customer touchpoints without adding risk or complexity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Vendasta is built to bridge that gap.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As an <a href=\"\/blog\/ai-customer-acquisition-and-engagement-platform\/\">AI customer acquisition and engagement platform<\/a> designed for partners and the SMBs they serve, Vendasta gives agencies, franchisors, ISVs, and service providers a practical way to turn an AI adoption strategy into something repeatable, governable, and scalable.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AI Employees That Operationalize Strategy, Not Just Experiments<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Early AI wins often break down at scale. What works for one team or one client becomes inconsistent when rolled out broadly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vendasta addresses this with an <\/span><a href=\"\/ai-workforce\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AI Workforce<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> designed to handle real business workflows, not one-off tasks. Partners can quickly deploy AI chat and voice receptionists, automated follow-ups, and customer engagement workflows across multiple clients, without rebuilding from scratch each time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-23399134 size-full\" src=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/ai-adoption-strategy-ai-receptionist-vendasta.webp\" alt=\"AI adoption strategy example using an AI receptionist for customer communication\" width=\"901\" height=\"542\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/ai-adoption-strategy-ai-receptionist-vendasta.webp 901w, https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/ai-adoption-strategy-ai-receptionist-vendasta-300x180.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/ai-adoption-strategy-ai-receptionist-vendasta-768x462.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/ai-adoption-strategy-ai-receptionist-vendasta-480x289.webp 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 901px) 100vw, 901px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These AI employees remove repetitive work while keeping humans focused on higher-value activities like strategy, relationships, and growth. This directly supports Schklar\u2019s point that successful AI adoption makes work more manageable and more meaningful, not more chaotic.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AI Powered by a Business\u2019s Own Data for Accuracy and Trust<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A common failure point in AI adoption is relevance. Generic tools lack context, which leads to inconsistent or off-brand customer experiences.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vendasta\u2019s AI is powered by a business\u2019s <\/span><b>own data<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, including customer interactions, services, and performance history. This allows AI Employees to deliver more accurate, on-brand responses and recommendations across the customer journey.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By grounding AI in real business data, partners can deploy customer-facing AI with confidence, reinforcing trust internally and externally while avoiding the risks that come with disconnected tools.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Built for Safe, Scalable Partner-Led AI Adoption<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Operationalizing AI across dozens or hundreds of SMBs requires structure. Vendasta provides smart automations, centralized management, and shared dashboards that help partners apply AI consistently while maintaining oversight.\u00a0<\/span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-23399138 size-full\" src=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/ai-adoption-strategy-business-app-vendasta.webp\" alt=\"Vendasta dashboard supporting AI adoption strategy through automated customer engagement\" width=\"886\" height=\"722\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/ai-adoption-strategy-business-app-vendasta.webp 886w, https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/ai-adoption-strategy-business-app-vendasta-300x244.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/ai-adoption-strategy-business-app-vendasta-768x626.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/ai-adoption-strategy-business-app-vendasta-480x391.webp 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 886px) 100vw, 886px\" \/><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This makes it easier to tie AI activity directly to measurable outcomes like time saved, faster response times, improved conversions, and stronger retention, all core components of Return on AI.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most importantly, Vendasta is built for partner-led growth. It allows agencies and other partners to move beyond experimentation and deliver AI as a managed, scalable capability for their clients, turning AI adoption into a durable operating advantage instead of a fragile side project.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Conclusion: AI Adoption Is A Leadership Discipline<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The companies pulling ahead with AI aren\u2019t louder about it. They\u2019re quieter, faster, and more systematic.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They don\u2019t chase every tool. They invest in culture, focus on real pain points, create safe environments to learn, and measure outcomes that matter to the business.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AI adoption strategy isn\u2019t about hype or heroics. It\u2019s about building systems that compound advantage over time. Leaders who act now won\u2019t just keep up. They\u2019ll define the pace.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re ready to turn AI adoption strategy into real, scalable infrastructure, <\/span><a href=\"\/request-demo\/\"><b>book a demo<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to see how Vendasta helps partners operationalize AI across the full customer journey.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AI Adoption Strategy FAQs<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3>1. How does an AI adoption strategy differ from AI experimentation?<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AI experimentation focuses on testing tools in isolation, while an AI adoption strategy embeds AI into daily operations with governance, metrics, and ownership. Vendasta supports this shift by providing AI Employees, automation, and shared dashboards that make AI part of how teams and partners work every day.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Why do AI initiatives fail in real businesses?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most AI initiatives fail because they lack clear leadership direction, cultural alignment, and ownership. Teams experiment with tools but never integrate them into workflows. Platforms like Vendasta help prevent this by turning AI into managed infrastructure that supports real customer acquisition, engagement, and retention goals.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. How should leaders start building an AI adoption strategy?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leaders should start with culture and clarity, not tools. Set expectations that AI use is encouraged, then focus on automating the most repetitive and painful tasks first. This approach builds trust quickly and creates early wins that make broader AI adoption easier to scale.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. What are the biggest barriers to AI adoption in businesses?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The biggest barriers are cultural resistance, unclear policies, and lack of safe environments to experiment. Without guidance, teams often resort to shadow AI. Vendasta helps reduce this risk by giving partners a secure, unified platform to deploy and manage AI responsibly.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. What is return on AI and how do you measure it?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Return on AI measures impact across time savings, cost reduction, revenue growth, productivity, accuracy, and retention. Many businesses already track these metrics. Vendasta makes it easier to connect AI-driven outcomes to real workflows, helping leaders justify investment and scale what works.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6. How long does it take to see results from an AI adoption strategy?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Early results often appear within weeks when AI is applied to high-friction workflows like inbox management, reporting, or customer inquiries. Broader impact compounds over months as systems mature. Tools like Vendasta accelerate this by enabling fast deployment without complex integrations.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7. Do agencies need to be AI experts to guide clients?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No. Agencies don\u2019t need deep technical expertise to lead AI adoption. They need practical experience and proven workflows. By using platforms like Vendasta internally, agencies can translate real wins into clear guidance for SMB clients and position themselves as trusted AI advisors.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8. How does AI adoption improve customer experience?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AI improves customer experience by delivering faster responses, 24\/7 availability, and smoother paths to action. Vendasta\u2019s AI chat and voice receptionists help businesses meet customers where they are while freeing staff to focus on high-value, human interactions.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">9. Is AI adoption about replacing human workers?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Effective AI adoption focuses on removing repetitive work, not replacing people. By automating routine tasks, teams gain time for strategy, creativity, and relationship-building. Vendasta\u2019s AI Employees are designed to empower humans, not replace them, across the customer journey.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10. How does Vendasta support a scalable AI adoption strategy?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vendasta supports AI adoption by combining AI Employees, automation, and proprietary business data in one unified platform. Partners can deploy AI quickly, manage it safely, and scale customer acquisition and engagement across multiple clients without relying on fragmented systems.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>AI adoption is no longer a question of if, but how. Yet many organizations are stuck. They\u2019ve bought tools, experimented with pilots, and attended webinars, but nothing in day-to-day operations feels meaningfully different. That hesitation is costly. While some leaders wait for clarity, others are quietly building systems that compound speed, efficiency, and customer experience [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":188,"featured_media":23399139,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23399132","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ai-automation"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.4 (Yoast SEO v26.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>A Proven AI Adoption Strategy for Operationalizing AI<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how to build a proven AI adoption strategy that moves beyond pilots, including real-world insights from AI expert Brett Schklar.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/ai-adoption-strategy\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Proven AI Adoption Strategy for Operationalizing AI: Insights from Brett Schklar\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn how to build a proven AI adoption strategy that moves beyond pilots, including real-world insights from AI expert Brett Schklar.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/ai-adoption-strategy\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Vendasta Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/vendasta\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-01-27T17:35:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-27T17:42:27+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/ai-adoption-strategy-vendasta.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1173\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"636\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Saman Siddiqui\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@vendasta\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@vendasta\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Saman Siddiqui\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"12 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":[\"Article\",\"BlogPosting\"],\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/ai-adoption-strategy\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/ai-adoption-strategy\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Saman Siddiqui\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/b16c9737ea7828423a93452e6abc5178\"},\"headline\":\"A Proven AI Adoption Strategy for Operationalizing AI: Insights from Brett Schklar\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-27T17:35:01+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-27T17:42:27+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/ai-adoption-strategy\/\"},\"wordCount\":2315,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/ai-adoption-strategy\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/ai-adoption-strategy-vendasta.webp\",\"articleSection\":[\"AI &amp; 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