Feeding the Machine: Is AI going to solve for your company’s partner strategy? Simple answer: No.

Al Irizarry
Aug 8
3 min read

A critical component of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the age-old adage of “feeding the machine”. Output dependent on input – it’s the garbage in, garbage out cliché.

In this story, these are the Large Language Models (LLMs) that are leveraged by the wonderful interfaces we use to prompt and request actions leveraging within in our personal and work lives more than ever. These LLMs are what “feed the machine” (in this example, Generative AI platforms) to do our bidding. Constructed from infinite number of sources and ever learning and consuming more.

Hold on, I am not here to educate the masses on the various AI types or how they work…plenty of information out there in the ether for you to consume, so let me get to my points…

AI is no longer a nice to have or use when you want to, they are tools being incorporated everywhere to make things more efficient, faster or even take over tasks or work.

As an owner of a business consulting practice, GoToMotions, I certainly leverage multiple AI tools to help keep informed on market trends, research applicable data based on the field of revenue growth strategies for enterprise software organizations and create things (all kind of things), just to list a few.

Important side note, this blog was handwritten typed* without the aid of AI*

I recently came across an article bouncing around socials regarding “The Death of the Consultant”(or something similar). Intrigued, like any good click-bait, I had to chase and see what angle was.

As expected, it was not even really about consultancy services and how it is or will cease to exist due to AI. It was about another AI tool/platform and the hope to move it across more users. Regardless, I got to thinking about the impression on leaders in revenue growth positions with the perception that AI alone can muster a company partner strategy without the need for experienced or field-worn knowledge of how it is all put together across an ecosystem of partnerships based on the market and position of the product.

Tools are just that tools, in the hands of the right craftsman can be powerful and effective but with incorrect usage, can be detrimental to an organization that can be poised to scale and grow through the right partnerships.

Today, software vendors primed for growth and need to scale through partnerships require assistance in navigating and getting the ‘right’ supplies for their journey.

Starting by leveraging the right data to map out the right path / strategy, aligning the go-to-market teams (Sales / Marketing / Product) across the organization so all know their roles and responsibilities on the journey and finally knowing where the rough areas to avoid and where to pick up speed to get to the right destination / desired outcome.

This is where consultants and fractional leaders shine being the Wayfinders for CEOs / CROs /CMOs who need that injection of experience to support them on their journeys.

AI can certainly help analyze, synthesize and draw the maps / plans but in the hands of the inexperienced it will take you through tumultuous and hard times that will end up costing time, trust and ultimately revenue at a critical and pivotal chapter in your organizations journey.

Is consulting DEAD because of AI, I think NOT!

Personal anecdote – considered at one point abbreviating A.I. in this post to distinguish against my first name which happens to look similar – Al which in most fonts is indistinguishable: AI vs Al. Decided not to since in most modern digital communication it doesn’t. But to the owner of my favorite local Chinese restaurant who points it out every time I order for pick up, my name is not Artificial Intelligence.

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