How AI Works:
5 Choices That Kill ROI
Most organizations aren’t failing at AI because the technology doesn’t work. They’re failing because of specific organizational design decisions made at rollout.
Research analysis done by 18 Coffees shows five common strategic choices leaders make that hinder AI adoption—and practical ways to course correct before pilots become expensive dead ends.
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What’s Inside
This white paper isn’t about which model to pick. It’s about the strategic choices that determine whether AI delivers real value—or stalls out in pilot purgatory.
Five common rollout choices that kill ROI (and how to reverse them)
Why most pilots never reach production
What these choices actually cost at the organizational level
How to build AI capability that actually scales
Who It’s For
Anyone interested in successfully integrating AI into their organization. If you’re in one of these roles, this white paper is definitely for you:
Executives sponsoring AI investments and being asked to “show ROI."
Functional leaders responsible for adoption (HR, ops, product, customer teams).
IT and transformation teams trying to scale beyond pilots without creating resistance.
Anyone seeing “we bought the tools, but nothing changed.”
Why Partner with 18 Coffees for Your
AI Strategy & Implementation
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Clarity & Direction
Transform AI confusion into a clear, actionable strategy.
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Optimized Performance
Drive efficiency, innovation, and competitive advantage across your operations.
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Future-Ready Workforce
Empower your employees with the skills and mindset to thrive alongside AI.
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Mitigated Risks
Implement AI securely, ethically, and in compliance with industry standards.
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Tangible ROI
Focus on AI initiatives that deliver measurable business value and sustained growth.
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Experienced Practitioners
Leverage our cross-industry knowledge and hands-on implementation support.
AI Insights & Thought Leadership
Stay ahead of the curve with our latest research and articles on strategic AI adoption.
Workforce Planning Intelligence: Understanding AI’s Impact on Your People
With 18 Coffees Workforce Planning Intelligence, leaders receive a custom roadmap with exactly the skills and processes most able to be augmented or replaced by GenAI, AI agents, and other emerging technologies, allowing you to prioritize reskilling and redeployment where they’ll deliver the most value.
The Lab for Applied AI: Where Research Meets Industry
As a faculty affiliate for the Lab for Applied AI at Loyola University Chicago, co-founder Caleb Gardner is combining research-driven insights into the future of the data science powering new AI technologies with practical applications for effective AI integration and workforce development.
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