Generative AI in 2025: Solution Providers Focus on ROI and Industry-Specific Applications

Shift in Focus: From Use Cases to Business Cases

As generative AI (GenAI) enters its third year since the launch of ChatGPT, the technology landscape is evolving rapidly. Solution providers are now zeroing in on return on investment (ROI) and industry-specific applications, moving beyond the initial excitement of AI as a novel technology 1

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Nidhi Srivastava, VP and global head of AI Cloud offerings at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), notes a significant shift: "There is this whole shift in stance from the world of use cases to the world of business cases" 1

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. This pragmatic approach is driving the development of AI solutions tailored to specific industries and job roles.

Industry-Specific AI Solutions Gain Traction

Solution providers are focusing on creating AI tools customized for various sectors:

1. Manufacturing: TCS has developed an agent assistant for plant operators, offering machine troubleshooting in local languages. This solution reduced machine downtime by 5% for a large chemical plant customer, resulting in millions of dollars in savings 1

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2. Healthcare and Life Sciences: HCLTech is seeing early traction in these sectors. Shrikanth Shetty, HCLTech's chief growth officer, emphasizes the need for AI tailored to industry-specific regulations like HIPAA 1

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3. Pharmaceuticals: HCLTech offers solutions to speed up clinical trials and regulatory approvals by summarizing information for federal audits and internal reviews 1

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The Rise of AI Agents

Andrew Wells, chief data and AI officer at NTT Data, predicts that AI agents will be "the next big wave" in the industry 2

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. These agents, more advanced than chatbots, can perform multistep tasks autonomously. Wells expects to book $2 billion in revenue for NTT Data's Smart AI Agent tool by 2027 2

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C-Suite Dilemma: Innovation vs. Responsibility

While enterprises are accelerating GenAI adoption, C-suite leaders face a challenging balance between rapid innovation and responsible implementation. Wells describes the "angst" among CEOs and CIOs: "I need to run fast. We need to drive business results, but I've got to do it in a secure, responsible way" 2

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Despite these concerns, executive enthusiasm for GenAI remains strong. An NTT Data survey revealed that 97% of CEOs see GenAI having a "material impact" on their operations, with 70% expecting significant transformation in 2025 2

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Addressing AI Challenges

To tackle issues like hallucinations and ensure accuracy, solution providers are implementing various strategies:

1. Small Language Models: NTT Data is developing customized small language models for clients' business processes 2

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2. Governance Layers: Inserting safety AI agents or human oversight in the workflow 2

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3. Techniques like GraphRAG (retrieval augmented generation) to mitigate hallucinations 2

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The Race for Competitive Advantage

The pressure to adopt GenAI is intense, with 60% of executives planning to innovate first and ensure responsible deployment later 2

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. Wells emphasizes, "The people that run to AI and start using these tools are going to be the ones that capitalize on them best. The ones that don't use it are going to be the ones that get left behind" 2

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As GenAI continues to evolve, solution providers are playing a crucial role in helping businesses navigate this complex landscape, balancing innovation with responsibility to unlock the technology's full potential across various industries.