Remember to keep the lights on
With all the commotion around gen AI, many IT leaders aren’t spending enough time on the other things they should be doing. “The emphasis on efficient operations needs to come back,” says Prasad. “At some point, it’ll come back to you if you lose sight of the fundamentals of your job.”
IT leaders should never forget that keeping the lights on (KTLO) remains a foundation of success, says Neal Sample, SVP and CIO of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. While AI may be an exciting proposition, KTLO often offers a more certain payoff. Modernizing systems, consolidating platforms, and retiring obsolete solutions reduce complexity and create a more agile environment. “These steps not only lower costs and improve productivity, but also make IT more capable of supporting priorities like AI,” says Sample.
For example, AI thrives on clean, reliable data, making traditional IT practices like data governance and integration indispensable. Poor-quality data undermines even the best AI models, reinforcing the importance of foundational IT work. “Stable IT operations ensure that AI-embedded tools work as intended, minimizing disruptions and preserving trust,” says Sample. “The exciting potential of AI simply can’t be realized without the solid groundwork KTLO provides.”
