AI and automation aren’t just speeding things up—they’re altering how decisions are made across consumer businesses. The McKinsey piece that’s been making the rounds nailed a few things worth repeating.
1. Speed is leverage.
Processes that used to take weeks—like demand planning or campaign analysis—can now be done in hours. In practice, that means unlocking value across the org. One example: some marketing teams are reporting productivity gains north of 40%. That kind of efficiency compounds.
2. Data is becoming more usable—but only if you're asking the right questions.
The tools are catching up. Structured and unstructured data can be turned into real input now. But the signal is only as good as the problem you’re trying to solve. Garbage in, garbage out still applies.
3. Human time is moving upstream.
AI is pulling insights out of reports that most teams would miss or take too long to find. That frees up time for the work that actually changes business outcomes: decision-making, strategy, relationship-building. Things AI can’t replicate, no matter how smart the tool.
4. The skill set is shifting.
The most valuable people in the room are the ones who can move between business and tech fluently. Not just understand both, but translate across them. They’re the new integrators.
Bottom line: leaders who understand where to apply AI—without turning their teams into automation projects—are going to outperform. It’s not about replacing judgment. It’s about giving your people better inputs, faster, so they can make smarter calls.
