The 7 Stages of AI Implementation: How to Assess Your Company’s AI Maturity Level
Artificial Intelligence is increasingly becoming a success factor for companies. But the path to effective AI use is not a sprint, but a step-by-step journey. The innFactory AI Adoption Ladder clearly shows seven stages with which you can assess your organization’s progress in AI implementation. The model helps to realistically assess how far your company has really come in terms of applied AI: from initial awareness to developing your own, customized AI models.
Below we present the individual stages of the AI Adoption Ladder so you can easily classify your company and clearly plan the next steps.
Stage 1: Raise Awareness – Creating Awareness
Everything often starts with the question: What is AI and what benefits can it bring? In this phase, workshops, webinars, and internal events sensitize employees and managers. It’s about recognizing opportunities, assessing risks, and generating initial ideas.
Stage 2: Use Chatbots: Using Chatbots like CompanyGPT
Chatbots like CompanyGPT often come into use as a first practical application. They support writing, research, or brainstorming and ensure faster and more efficient work. At the same time, rules for data security and AI governance must be defined.
Stage 3: Deploy AI Assistants: Using AI Assistants
In this phase, AI systems take over repetitive tasks and optimize workflows. Team efficiency increases measurably because smart tools like n8n automate routine work and create space for more complex tasks.
Stage 4: Integrate Business Data: Integrating Business Data
AI unfolds its full potential when connected with internal business data. This creates more precise analyses and better-founded decisions. Integration creates tangible competitive advantages.
Stage 5: Intelligent Agents: Intelligent Agents
In more complex use cases, agents work autonomously and handle demanding tasks independently. This relieves employees and gives them room for creative and strategic activities.
Stage 6: Collaborative Systems: Collaborative Systems
Multiple specialized agents work together to solve dynamic problems and holistically transform business processes. This creates flexible, adaptive systems that can respond to complex challenges.
Stage 7: Tailored AI Models: Customized AI Models
The highest development stage is individual AI models based on company-specific data and precisely tailored to the company’s needs. This enables maximum accuracy and unique competitive advantages. These AI models can of course also be used in intelligent agents or collaborative systems.
Self-Check: Where Does Your Company Stand on the AI Ladder?
Use the 7 stages to assess the current status of your AI implementation. Are you still in the awareness phase or already using customized models? Companies are often somewhere between stages 2 and 4, having implemented initial applications but lacking full integration and scaling.
A clear understanding of your own maturity level helps to prioritize next steps and invest resources strategically.
Would you like to assess your position or talk to experts about the next AI steps? Contact us.