A strategy without a roadmap is a wish list. A roadmap without a strategy is a to-do list. You need both — connected by clear milestones and governance.
The 3-Phase Plan
Phase 1: Foundation (Month 1–6)
Goal: Build the foundation and prove initial value.
Actions:
Conduct AI readiness assessment (lesson 701)
Build/improve data infrastructure
Assemble first AI team (internal + external)
Start 1–2 quick-win pilots
Establish AI governance framework
Milestones:
✅ Assessment completed
✅ Data pipeline for pilot use case running
✅ First pilot delivers measurable results
✅ Executive buy-in for Phase 2
Phase 2: Scale (Month 7–18)
Goal: Scale successful pilots and start additional use cases.
Actions:
Move pilots to production
Identify and start 3–5 additional use cases
Build AI Center of Excellence (CoE)
Roll out training program for employees
Establish KPI tracking and reporting
Milestones:
✅ 2+ use cases in production
✅ Measurable ROI documented
✅ CoE with 5+ members operational
✅ 50%+ of target audience trained
Phase 3: Transform (Month 19–36)
Goal: AI becomes part of the company's DNA.
Actions:
Integrate AI into strategic decision-making processes
Develop new business models based on AI
Build cross-functional AI competency
Establish continuous improvement loop
Build thought leadership (conferences, publications)
Milestones:
✅ 10+ use cases in production
✅ AI-powered products/services live
✅ AI literacy at all leadership levels
✅ Demonstrable competitive advantage
Governance Structure
Level
Responsibility
Frequency
AI Board (C-level)
Strategy, budget, prioritization
Quarterly
AI CoE (operational)
Standards, best practices, support
Weekly
Project teams
Implementation, delivery
Daily
Ethics Committee
Ethics, bias, compliance
As needed + quarterly
Budget Planning
Phase 1: €150,000–300,000 (pilots + infrastructure)
Phase 2: €500,000–1,000,000 (scaling + team)
Phase 3: €1,000,000–3,000,000 (transformation)
Total (3 years): €1.5–4.5M
Expected ROI: 300–500% from year 3
The Roadmap Lives
An AI roadmap is not a static document. Plan for quarterly reviews:
What worked? What didn't?
What new technologies/tools are available?
Have business priorities changed?
Is the budget still on track?
Final tip: Share the roadmap with the entire company. Transparency builds trust and support. AI strategy is not a secret project — it's a company transformation.