GenAI Use Case Ideation – How to encourage specialist departments to contribute their ideas

Clear your head for innovation

Friday, 1:30 p.m. An innovation workshop at the company – actually the perfect setting to explore new business areas and set strategic courses. But the reality is quite different: most of the participants were unable to prepare adequately because the week was dominated by processing incoming customer enquiries and complaint emails. Other team members were busy processing urgent order enquiries and searching for item numbers in extensive catalogues.

At the end of the workshop, the conclusion is sobering: when asked who would like to actively promote the innovation topics discussed, the answers are familiar: ‘The topic is definitely relevant, but I don't have the time right now’ or ‘It's very interesting in principle, but I have to finish my current projects first’. The pattern is clear: no room for innovation because available capacity is tied up in day-to-day operations – even though many of these recurring tasks could have been automated long ago.

‘There's already AI for that.’

A sentence that many of us have heard or even uttered ourselves. After all, AI solutions can now not only sort emails, but also respond to them authentically – making everyday life noticeably easier for some employees. However, anyone who has ever been involved in an IT project knows only too well that the existence of the technology does not necessarily mean that it will be used in a meaningful or even economical way.

The proportion of abandoned AI projects rose from 17 to 42 percent in 2024, as a recent analysis by McKinsey shows. At the same time, Gartner warns that 30 percent of all AI and generative AI projects fail in the pilot phase. They cite spiralling costs, unclear business value, poor data quality and inadequate risk controls as the reasons for this. This shows that not only do many questions arise when it comes to GenAI, but also that the introduction and implementation of these technologies must be planned accordingly in order to ultimately reap the desired benefits.

And that's exactly where we come in: practical, honest and always focused on customers, their employees and their individual challenges. Transparency instead of sales pitches, methodical problem analysis instead of blind implementation of a solution. Participation is an explicit agenda item, and critical questions are expressly welcome. And that is precisely why we have developed a format that provides structured support to companies in identifying and designing meaningful GenAI use cases: our GenAI Use Case Ideation Workshops.

What are GenAI Use Case Ideation Workshops?

A GenAI Use Case Ideation Workshop offers companies a practical framework for better understanding generative AI, identifying potential in their own environment, and jointly developing concrete use cases and strategies for their implementation. The workshops combine expertise in GenAI with structured problem analysis and creative brainstorming: Participants analyse current challenges, develop a clear vision and plan concrete implementation steps – always with a realistic approach and using practical examples. The spectrum ranges from automated processing of email enquiries and AI-supported apartment handover protocols to forecasts for the sale of seasonal gourmet products.

Together from vision to roadmap

Through technical instruction on current trends and specific use cases, participants can learn and experience through live demos how AI solutions – such as ChatGPT or DALL-E – work in a business context. They also learn what these solutions are currently being used for and what needs to be considered when introducing these technologies in a company. In a subsequent joint ideation phase, existing challenges are systematically identified and initial visions for the future are formulated together. A common goal not only ensures effective collaboration, but also promotes the commitment of participants in the implementation. The ideas are then refined further and can be implemented in the form of initial prototypes during the workshop with the support of specialists from the field of GenAI and the relevant customer industry. Finally, there is a discussion on how these approaches can be transferred into corporate practice – including a roadmap and taking into account data protection and EU compliance.

Anyone who is curious and would like to contribute their expertise and ideas is invited to participate, regardless of their technical knowledge. This interdisciplinary collaboration leads to solutions that are not only technically feasible, but also relevant to everyday work. At the same time, a coordinated strategic basis for the further use of GenAI is created, with which the participants can identify.

Our approach and promise of success

Despite the open and creative atmosphere, the focus is on thorough preparation and methodical implementation. Even before the workshop, we talk to all stakeholders, jointly define clear goals for the workshop and provide material for preparation. Our interdisciplinary team of GenAI experts, experienced moderators and industry specialists ensures that technical feasibility and industry-specific requirements are taken into account from the outset. A clear focus, fair opportunities for participation and stringent moderation are the success factors for goal-oriented and informative workshops. They offer the ideal starting point for jointly developing concrete solutions and establishing GenAI in the company in the long term.