CIO OPINION line with changing requirements, without routing every change through IT.
Tax compliance serves as a concrete example. AIaligned automation platforms allow firms to mitigate the risks associated with failing to adapt to new digital reporting obligations, such as penalties, lost trust, or market exclusion, by embedding real-time regulatory checks directly into day-to-day operations.
Three key operational shifts for 2025 and beyond
To close the AI readiness gap and align with Europe’ s digital agenda, organisations must prioritise:
1. Widespread automation enablement: Provide non-specialists with access to automation tools they can use and understand. Democratising the use of platforms reduces delays and removes unnecessary technical dependencies.
2. Built-in compliance infrastructure: Regulatory readiness can no longer be tacked on as an afterthought. AI tools must include compliance features, like audit trails, permission controls and validation gates, as standard.
3. On-the-job learning networks: Legacy training models should be replaced with embedded, justin-time upskilling. Establish internal AI champions and peer-driven knowledge sharing to support continuous capability building.
Combining infrastructure with human capability
Europe’ s investment in AI infrastructure is vital, but its success hinges on equal investment in workforce readiness. High-performing models mean little without people who can deploy and refine them responsibly.
Business leaders must position AI as a core operational capability; not an abstract project owned by IT or innovation teams. Real competitiveness will come from embedding AI fluency across departments, empowering teams to act fast, comply confidently, and deliver value consistently.
By confronting the AI skills challenge head-on, businesses will lay a foundation to future-proof their operations while gaining an advantage as the next generation of Digital Transformation unfolds across the global economy. p
44 INTELLIGENTCIO EUROPE www. intelligentcio. com