Key reflections for companies looking to transform today
By Ermilo Vázquez – CCO Anastasia

In recent conversations with innovation leaders, technology experts, and business executives — as well as with clients at different stages of digital maturity — one theme keeps surfacing: how to move from knowledge to action in artificial intelligence (AI).

What’s striking is how similar the questions are across organizations, whether in operations, commercial strategy, or innovation teams: Where do we start? How do we overcome internal resistance? What decisions will ensure AI is not just a concept, but a practice that delivers measurable results?

From theory to practice

Talking about AI in future terms is no longer enough. AI is here now, shaping industries as diverse as retail, consumer packaged goods, frozen foods, and beverages.

But access to technology is not what separates leaders from laggards. The difference lies in their ability to embed AI into daily decision-making and business processes.

The challenge is not technical, it’s cultural. Companies that fail to align teams around AI will continue treating it as an experiment instead of a true growth engine.

• Speed matters. The companies that prototype fast, at low cost, and with a test-and-learn mindset are the ones unlocking value sooner.
• Leadership is essential. Executives who understand and use AI are the ones driving adoption across the enterprise.
• Action is the real differentiator. A dashboard full of data means nothing unless it translates into decisions and tangible outcomes.

Ten key insights to accelerate adoption

From these conversations, ten recurring lessons stand out:

1. AI is everywhere. The question is not if but how and when you adopt it.
2. Competitive advantage will belong to those who use it first — and best.
3. Cultural resistance is the biggest barrier.
4. Leaders must understand AI to demand and guide its use.
5. AI won’t replace jobs — but people who leverage AI will replace those who don’t.
6. Testing fast and small is better than waiting for the perfect solution.
7. Data quality, cleanliness, and integration are as critical as the AI itself.
8. Incentives and metrics are key to overcoming inertia.
9. Critical thinking, business acumen, and continuous learning are indispensable.
10. Markets that adopt AI strategically can leapfrog globally.

Final reflection

AI is not an end in itself. It is a means to transform business models, accelerate decision-making, and unlock new growth opportunities.

For retail, CPG, frozen food, and beverage companies, the question is no longer about potential — it’s about execution:

👉 What concrete actions will you take today to ensure your organization doesn’t just talk about AI, but actually uses it to transform its future?