How to Successfully Adopt AI for Real Efficiency Gains

Why AI Adoption Is a Leadership Issue, Not a Tech Experiment

AI is transforming how companies work — but success isn’t just about buying tools. It’s about leadership, governance, and empowering teams.
In a recent Snap Tech IT webinar, CRO Ted Hulsy led a panel discussion with executives who have experience in launching and running AI within their business.
Here’s what executives from BAMKO, Western Ag Credit, and Zinfi Technologies shared about driving real efficiency through AI.

The Foundation: What Needs to be the Real Goal of AI Adoption?

Companies rushing to “add AI” often miss the real goal: efficiency and productivity. As Ari Harrison, VP of IT at BAMKO, said during Snap Tech IT’s November Executive Panel,

“AI is not just a tech initiative. It is truly an efficiency engine that will transform how work gets done in your business.”

That mindset — seeing AI as a business transformation tool, not a shiny object — is what separates early adopters from effective ones.

At BAMKO, Harrison led an internal AI task force after his CEO personally charged IT to “figure out where AI can fit into our business.” The company trained users across departments on Google Gemini, achieving an impressive 70% adoption rate. Their secret? Meeting employees where they are, through departmental training, office hours, and hands-on guidance.

So, how can you build an AI strategy that accomplishes the true goal of AI adoption?
We’ve summarized our panel discussion to give you a clear-cut path forward…

Step 1: Empower Teams Through Targeted Training

AI success depends on user confidence. BAMKO brought in professional trainers and customized sessions for each department. “When I was bringing people in for training, they were saying, this is great, but what does it do for me?” Harrison explained.

By tailoring AI learning to practical use cases — like writing emails, summarizing meetings, or automating sales follow-ups — BAMKO turned curiosity into measurable productivity.

Step 2: Create a Governance Framework That Enables, Not Restrains

Ryan Howell, CIO and COO of Western AgCredit, shared a financial industry perspective where regulation adds complexity:

“Regulators are always behind when new technology comes out. They say apply best business practices, but they won’t give you a playbook.”

Western AgCredit, a Microsoft shop, rolled out Copilot licenses to key innovators while balancing data protection and compliance. Their AI committee explores safe business use cases and tests new efficiencies in a controlled environment.

Governance doesn’t mean locking innovation down — it means keeping data safe while experimenting. As Howell noted, “Governance controls will always be the enemy of efficiency, but in regulated industries, we don’t have a choice. You have to pair innovation with oversight.”

Step 3: Address Shadow IT — and Learn From It

Almost every employee today has experimented with ChatGPT or Gemini. The challenge is preventing “shadow AI” — unapproved tools that could expose sensitive data.

Instead of blanket bans, leaders should view this as feedback. As Harrison put it:

“Often, Shadow IT is just the user setting a desire path. We need to understand why — what are they trying to accomplish that our approved tools don’t yet deliver?”

Snap Tech IT advises clients to start with clear AI use policies, then deploy secure, standardized tools integrated into business workflows.

Step 4: Form an AI Task Force or Steering Committee

Every panelist agreed: structured collaboration drives momentum. BAMKO’s AI task force reports directly to leadership, while Western AgCredit’s cross-functional AI committee surfaces practical innovations.

At Zinfi Technologies, founder Sugata Sanyal highlighted the need for standardization across 40+ AI tools:

“Our biggest challenge is standardizing. We’re narrowing down to 16 or 17 tools that add the most value, and then integrating AI capabilities into our product for customers.”

Step 5: Communicate AI’s Purpose — Augmentation, Not Replacement

Fear of job loss can derail adoption. Harrison emphasized transparent messaging:

“We were intentional in framing the deployment that this is not going to replace you. It’s to augment what you’re doing and make you more efficient.”

Howell echoed that sentiment: “AI allows us to make decisions faster, not replace human judgment.”

The Bottom Line: AI Is a Team Sport

True AI success happens when leadership, governance, and enablement align. From BAMKO’s training culture to Western AgCredit’s cautious innovation and Zinfi’s data-driven standardization, the formula is clear:

• Lead with purpose and process.
• Train for value, not hype.
• Govern smartly — but don’t stifle innovation.

As Snap Tech IT’s own Ted Hulsy summarized: “If you haven’t established an AI policy and enablement plan, start now. Empower your people with the right tools and training, or risk being left behind.”