AI ROI: Why Real Value Is Built, Not Bought

Artificial intelligence is everywhere today, featured in boardroom discussions, strategic plans and vendor presentations. If your organization is truly committed to capturing meaningful return on investment (ROI) from AI – especially in complex and high-risk environments such as security – it may be time to look closely at your approach.

The truth is you can’t simply buy your way to AI success. Off-the-shelf solutions may look impressive in demos, but they often fall short when faced with the realities of unique business requirements. These “plug-and-play” tools rarely align perfectly with your customer experience, operational workflows, or long-term growth objectives. What seems like a quick win can quickly turn into a long-term obstacle, sometimes even constraining innovation and flexibility.

Building AI capability in-house can be a different journey. The first year or two of deploying AI-powered solutions is rarely “set and forget.” Instead, it’s a period of continuous learning and adjustment. Models need to be tuned and refined as they encounter real customer data and evolving business needs. Without internal expertise to guide this process, organizations risk missing out on the full potential of AI – or worse, making costly mistakes.

AI should be seen not as a one-time project but as an evolving capability, just like how you train employees. As people gain experience, they can do more, and AI will be no different. The organizations that will lead in the AI era are those investing in robust data infrastructure, upskilling cross-functional teams and embedding AI into the very fabric of their business. This approach creates a sustainable engine for value, rather than a patchwork of disconnected tools, which has become all too common in many organizations.

It’s also important to recognize that AI strategy is fundamentally about risk management. There’s no crystal ball, only calculated bets on technology, talent and where future value will emerge. The winners will be those who are willing to own the risk, learn quickly, and adapt faster than the competition.

Before you approve your next AI initiative, consider these questions:

• Are we addressing a genuine business challenge, or just following the latest trend?
• Do we have the internal capability to evolve our models over time?
• Are we building a foundation for long-term value creation?

If you want AI to be a true differentiator, it can’t be something you simply outsource. Real ROI comes from building, owning and continuously developing your AI capabilities in-house to leverage its power. In other words, treat AI as an employee you need to develop with your data set.

The views and opinions expressed in guest posts and/or profiles are those of the authors or sources and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Security Industry Association.

This article originally appeared in All Things AI, a newsletter presented by the SIA AI Advisory Board.