From Big Bets to Smart Steps
Why Manufacturers Should Pilot Their Way Into AI
Climbing Smarter
Last week, I was on a call with a manufacturing leader just coming out of a long budget meeting. He laughed and said, “Everyone wants to know exactly what the summit will cost, but I’m still standing at the trailhead.”
That line stuck with me because it perfectly captures where so many manufacturers are today - staring up at the mountain of AI and digital transformation, feeling the pressure to map and budget the entire journey before taking the first step.
But here’s the truth:
You don’t need to plan for the summit before you’ve even set foot at base camp.
The Expedition-Killing Budget Trap
Time and again, projects stall before they start because everyone’s demanding a price for the entire climb - gear, guides, even the victory flag at the top - when you haven’t even scouted the foothills.
Teams spend weeks debating every possible twist in the trail.
Decision fatigue sets in and momentum vanishes.
The risk of the unknown keeps you rooted at the trailhead, staring at the map instead of moving forward.
It’s like insisting on a weather report for every peak in the range, when all you really need are boots, a daypack, and a sense of adventure for the first leg.
Climb by Trail Markers, Not by Telescope
The teams making real progress don’t wait for the perfect map or the perfect weather. They pick a promising trail, take a few smart steps, and learn as they go.
When it comes to AI, this mindset shift is even more important. Nobody expects you to master the entire mountain on Day One. What matters is showing you can take a step, reach a new vista, and prove there’s value in the climb.
Start with a clear, manageable pilot.
Measure your progress.
Learn what works, and use that experience to build your route to the next marker.
Each small win builds your confidence and your team’s. Suddenly, the conversation moves from “What will this whole climb cost?” to “Where can we go from here?”
AI Is a Series of Ascents, Not a Single Leap
The companies who win with AI aren’t the ones who throw a fortune at the biggest peak - they’re the ones who keep climbing, bit by bit, building muscle, skills, and momentum along the way.
AI adoption is about learning the terrain, not gambling on a single route to the summit. Pilots and proofs of concept are your training hikes: they reveal what gear you need, which paths are safe, and where the real rewards lie.
Each pilot is a trail marker, not the finish line.
Real results, not theoretical budgets, light the way forward.
You build trust with every successful ascent, both inside your team and with leadership.
The Takeaway: Lace Up and Take That First Step
Stop demanding a panoramic map of the whole mountain before you even lace up your boots. Start with the first ridge. Prove the value of each climb, and let real experience guide your path - especially when you’re venturing into something as game-changing as AI.
So if your organization keeps asking “What will it cost to reach the summit?” flip the script. Ask, “What can we accomplish on this first trail?” That’s how you de-risk every decision, gain altitude with confidence, and make steady progress up the mountain - one smart step at a time.
Ready to get out of the planning tent and onto the trail? Let’s start charting that first ascent together.