At Gold Bond Inc., a promotional products company, integrating artificial intelligence directly into existing workflows, rather than introducing standalone AI tools, proved crucial for successful adoption. CIO Matt Price spearheaded the initiative to embed AI, such as Google's Gemini, into processes employees found cumbersome, including ERP intake, document processing, and call follow-ups. This approach led to a significant increase in daily AI usage from 20% to 71%, with 43% of employees reporting time savings of up to two hours per day.

Price emphasized the importance of involving employees in the AI adoption process. A small group of "super-users" identified specific examples relevant to Gold Bond and trained their colleagues. The company implemented sandbox testing, guardrails, and human review, particularly for public-facing content, to ensure responsible AI implementation. "I wanted to bring everybody on the journey," Price told VentureBeat. "After we reset some expectations, people started leaning towards it. Our adoption has taken off."

Gold Bond, Inc., a major player in the $20.5 billion promotional products industry, produces custom swag and corporate gifts for 8,500 active customers. The company's experience highlights a broader trend: AI adoption often falters when implemented without careful consideration of existing IT infrastructure and employee workflows. Simply introducing AI chatbots or other standalone tools may not yield desired results if they are not integrated into the daily tasks of employees.

Experts suggest that successful AI integration requires a strategic approach, starting with identifying pain points in existing workflows and then leveraging AI to automate or augment those tasks. This approach necessitates collaboration between IT departments and business units to ensure that AI solutions are tailored to specific needs and are user-friendly. Furthermore, ongoing training and support are essential to help employees adapt to new AI-powered tools and processes.

The case of Gold Bond Inc. demonstrates that AI adoption is not solely about technology; it is also about change management and employee engagement. By focusing on practical applications and providing adequate support, organizations can overcome resistance to AI and unlock its potential to improve efficiency and productivity. The company plans to further expand its AI capabilities, exploring new applications in product visualization and customer service.