In the race to modernize enterprise technology, there’s one thing hasn’t kept pace: the way we deliver it. Software has evolved from on-prem to SaaS to AI-driven ecosystems, yet most professional services still run on static deployment playbooks and slow, bloated consulting models. 

That disconnect is costing companies time, money, and momentum. Implementations take too long. Expertise is trapped in silos. Teams spend more hours managing the work than doing the work. 

On a positive note, there's tremendous room for growth here. What if professional services could move at the speed of software? What if every deployment, migration, and optimization effort was guided by collective intelligence that could anticipate needs, identify the best-suited consulting resources, and learn from every engagement that came before it? 

At Entelligence, we talk a lot about creating an “AI-led, expert-delivered" model for professional services. Let’s unpack what exactly this means and how it can be a valuable, novel approach. 

What Does “AI-Led” Actually Mean? 

Before defining what “AI-led” means, it’s important to clarify what it isn’t. 

“AI-led” does not mean replacing humans. We aren’t suggesting that you remove humans from the equation.  

Anyone who has either led professional services or utilized them recognizes how much of their value comes in the very human, very nuanced art of managing change within organizations on the path to driving adoption of a new technology or approach. Rather, “AI-led” means serving humans the information and context they need to operate at their best. 

“AI-led” is not a chatbot or a simple automation layer. Adding AI on top of existing workflows and software tooling has become pervasive, but that’s not what we mean by “AI-led.”  

When we talk about an AI-led approach to professional services, we’re talking about infusing AI-generated intelligence across the end-to-end delivery of services, guiding the way services are scoped, staffed, and executed. Ultimately, an AI-led professional services practice results in engagements that are more predictable, repeatable, and measurable. 

So what is AI-led? 
Here’s the essence of “AI-led” professional services in the modern technology ecosystem: It’s the use of structured data, predictive models, and adaptive learning to map, scope, and orchestrate each phase of a services engagement.  

AI-led means enabling consultants and professional services delivery teams to focus on higher-value work.  

It means arming them with data and decades of lessons learned, so they spend less time managing logistics and more time creating impact. 

It’s about freeing experts to do more of what they love: helping customers and delivering success. 

How AI-Led Makes a Difference 

An AI-led approach enhances the experience for every stakeholder in the services ecosystem. 

IT leaders on a mission to deploy, integrate, and encourage adoption of new technologies benefit from faster, more reliable implementation paths. Being on the receiving end of AI-led services means you can find and deploy consulting resources to supplement your existing team instantly and on demand. Scoping is fast, deployments are seamless and predictable, and results are guaranteed.  

Independent software vendors (ISVs) and channel partners looking for a scalable way to get the right services resources to customers have a new solution. AI-led services translate into greater scalability by orders of magnitude, and a path to securing additional services resources whenever they’re needed, without the headaches of hiring cycles or delivery bottlenecks. The end result: you’ll be able to serve more customers while maintaining consistent quality and margins. 

Consultants that adopt an AI-led approach utilize tools and processes that remove inefficiencies and/or unwanted downtime from engagements. You’ll operate at full capacity, take on more projects, and spend more time doing meaningful work. 

Across the board, AI-led professional services translate into consulting engagements that are faster, smarter, and – believe it or not – more human. 

Let's Make it Concrete 

In my next article, I’ll explain how we at Entelligence are manifesting our vision for “AI-led services” within the Entelligence Platform. I’ll talk through the AI capabilities that we’re infusing into the Platform today and beyond to make “AI-led professional services” a truly tangible concept. 

Want to learn more about what AI-led services mean for your business? Set up time for a discovery call – we’d be happy to chat. 

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🎙️ Entelligence Unplugged took place on November 5th, which featured a lively conversation on How Services Can Fuel Product Growth between Broadcom's Brian Martinez and Entelligence CEO Dmitry Shkliarevsky. The replay is available now!