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Artificial intelligence has shifted from hype to real transformation in enterprises. A few years ago, there were promises of full automation and the obsolescence of traditional systems and roles. While excitement was high, so were fears of overly ambitious “rip-and-replace” deployments.
In this episode of the Analytics Insight Podcast, host Priya Dialani speaks with Rakesh Prasad, Senior Vice President (SVP) of Strategy and Solutions at Innover, to explore the rising preference for AI infusion over AI replacement. Founded six years ago and headquartered in Atlanta, Innover specializes in helping businesses maximize their data and analytics investments.
The company operates across the US, Canada, Mexico, and India, with Bangalore as its India headquarters. Its service offerings span three layers: digital engineering, process engineering, and experience engineering, designed to deliver measurable business outcomes.
With over 21 years in the technology industry, Mr. Prasad began his career at Mindtree in 2005. His early roles took him across APAC and Europe, implementing complex analytical solutions for global clients. He later worked at Colgate-Palmolive, gaining firsthand insight into how large enterprises adopt change. Mr. Prasad’s career has been built on one guiding principle: technology evolves quickly, but true success depends on how well solutions address customer challenges and integrate into existing processes.
AI infusion involves integrating AI capabilities into existing systems and workflows, rather than replacing them entirely. Mr. Prasad likens it to upgrading a functioning city with smart traffic lights and automated utilities, instead of building a brand-new smart city from scratch. This approach focuses on enhancing what works, minimizing disruption, and enabling faster adoption.
The SVP of Strategy and Solutions at Innover explains, “The viability of AI strategies depends heavily on a company’s history and technical debt.” He divides enterprises into two broad groups, those founded after the internet era (post-2003/2004) and those established before it.
Legacy companies, especially those in the Fortune 500, often have massive investments in core systems deeply embedded in their operations. For these organizations, a complete overhaul is impractical, costly, and risky. AI infusion allows them to modernize gradually, layering predictive, automation, and optimization capabilities on top of existing infrastructure.
Innover’s mission is not just to implement analytics or AI, but to ensure these technologies create tangible value. By embedding AI into end-to-end business processes, whether in manufacturing, logistics, telecom, or BFSI, enterprises can improve decisions. They can streamline operations and enhance customer experiences without sacrificing stability.
As Mr. Prasad emphasizes, the question is no longer if AI will transform enterprises, but when and how much. For most organizations, especially those with complex legacy systems, AI infusion offers a pragmatic, high-impact path forward. It enables innovation without disruption, ensuring technology adoption aligns with business realities and delivers sustainable results.
The SVP of Strategy and Solutions at Innover summarizes, "Technology evolves fast, but true success comes from embedding it into processes that deliver real, measurable business impact." Listen to the full discussion on the Analytics Insight Podcast to navigate the changing landscape of AI in business effectively.
