NTT Data Unleashes Unified AI Strategy for Enterprise Impact!

A recently published Insights and Vision Report from NTT Data has underscored a critical insight: artificial intelligence (AI) cannot achieve its full potential when merely layered onto existing, inefficient processes. The report concludes that organizations poised for success will strategically apply AI where it can create a material difference and, crucially, embed robust governance from the very outset of their initiatives.

A significant finding from the report indicates that almost three in five (59%) of surveyed respondents perceive AI as either confined to small pilots or deployed in specific functions without being unified across the enterprise. This highlights a persistent gap between AI experimentation and successful execution. Achieving the right level of governance emerges as a pivotal factor connecting numerous considerations for scaling AI effectively. Jesus Ordonez Garcia, CEO, consulting, Benelux & France at NTT Data, elaborates on this challenge: “Most companies have many ideas, many pilots, but the real challenge is taking something that works with a small team in a controlled environment and making it work for every day, for thousands of users connected to real business processes.” He stresses that scaling demands appropriate data integration with existing systems, robust security measures, and comprehensive governance frameworks.

Jeroen van Hamersveld, NTT Data Netherlands country managing director, further emphasizes the human element within governance. He draws a parallel to earlier days of customer experience (CX) consulting, where training involved simple tools. Today, employees are often given considerable freedom with complex AI tools incorporating Large Language Models (LLMs). Van Hamersveld asserts the importance of preparing the organization through training and empowering employees to experiment, while ensuring that governance guides these experiments toward tangible business value.

Beyond personnel, a solid data foundation is another vital component for successful AI implementation. The commonly cited statistic that over 80% of AI projects fail to deliver expected business value is frequently attributed to an inadequate data foundation. Poor data inevitably leads to poor outcomes. Van Hamersveld points out the initial pitfall of using AI without understanding data quality. He also raises critical questions regarding data environment choices: whether to keep AI processes private and contained within an organization's own data environment or allow them to be fully open, and how to build sovereign capabilities.

NTT Data positions itself as an orchestration layer to assist larger organizations in navigating these complexities. The company was recognized as a market leader by HFS Research in its HFS Horizons: Agentic Services 2026 report, praised for being a 'powerful orchestrator of agentic AI… to unify complex enterprise landscapes and turn disconnected AI efforts into scalable, enterprise-wide impact.' This orchestration capability is identified as a key differentiator for AI transformation compared to other digital initiatives. AI requires exploring an entire strategic landscape, rather than merely replacing a single component like a network.

Ordonez Garcia, whose role focuses on application consulting, strategic, and advisory aspects, finds these discussions familiar. He emphasizes the importance of early conversations with clients to ensure they grasp that AI transformation extends beyond just technology. A critical aspect is ensuring that teams perceive AI as a tool to enhance their jobs rather than a threat. The subsequent step involves process redesign; as Ordonez Garcia succinctly puts it, applying AI to an inefficient process may only accelerate that inefficiency. This, again, leads back to the necessity of governance. He adds that as AI becomes more autonomous and integrated into business decisions, companies must establish clear accountability and controls from the outset.

Van Hamersveld further elaborates on the concept of orchestrated AI: “You can build a lot of independent AI agents, but the real solution is that you make sure those agents are working together in an orchestrated way, so that you get the full value out of it.” He highlights NTT Data's approach, which treats an AI agent as a valuable person within a process, advocating for its careful integration and management. NTT Data, participating at TechEx Europe, assumes the role of an overseer, providing expertise from vertical, innovation, and infrastructure perspectives. For organizations grappling with balancing innovation, security, compliance, and governance, NTT Data offers guidance.

Van Hamersveld concludes by stating, “We need to help organizations understand that this is a great opportunity to transform their business, but [one] that you have to do responsibly.” He stresses that effective AI implementation, delivering significant business value, requires meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to responsible practices, moving beyond mere experimentation.