AI Licences Alone Won't Transform Your Business, Says New Consultancy

For many businesses, investing in artificial intelligence has started with buying AI-powered software licences. But a new consultancy believes that's only the beginning, warning that companies risk missing out on significant financial savings if they stop there.

Boxtree Consulting has launched with a clear message for UK businesses: simply purchasing AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot is not the same as having an AI strategy. 

According to the Birmingham-based consultancy, the biggest opportunities lie in transforming everyday business processes rather than simply improving individual productivity.

Founded by operational transformation specialist Max Pardo-Roques,(PICTURED) Boxtree combines Lean principles, originally developed through Toyota's renowned production system, with modern AI technology to identify repetitive manual tasks that can be automated. 

These include activities such as invoice processing, data entry, scheduling, compliance checks and other administrative work that quietly consumes thousands of staff hours each year.

The company argues that many organisations have embraced AI on the surface, using it to draft emails or improve marketing content, while leaving their most time-consuming and expensive workflows untouched.

Pardo-Roques believes this is where businesses are overlooking substantial savings.

He told That's Business that many chief executives, finance directors and operations leaders believe they have implemented AI because staff have access to AI assistants. In reality, he argues, true transformation only begins when organisations redesign the processes where most operational costs occur.

Recent research suggests many UK businesses still have some way to go. Analysis of Office for National Statistics data found that fewer than three in ten UK businesses employing under 50 people were using AI in 2025, compared with 44 per cent of organisations employing more than 250 staff. Meanwhile, the Government's AI Champion for Advanced Manufacturing has warned that many firms remain stuck in a "pilot trap", experimenting with AI without deploying it at scale.

Boxtree's approach is deliberately practical. Every client engagement begins with a Lean diagnostic that maps business processes and identifies waste in financial terms. Projects only move forward if they are expected to generate savings that exceed implementation costs during the first year.

The consultancy is confident enough in its approach to guarantee every project will be cost-neutral within its first year, with an overall target of delivering a five-to-one return on investment.

Rather than replacing existing software, Boxtree focuses on embedding AI into the systems businesses already use, reducing disruption while improving efficiency.

Serving organisations across manufacturing, logistics, professional services and other operations-intensive sectors, Boxtree believes the next stage of the UK's AI journey will not be driven by software licences alone, but by businesses willing to rethink how work gets done.

https://boxtreeconsulting.co.uk

Axians UK launches Enterprise Architecture as a Service to simplify digital transformation

Axians UK has launched Enterprise Architecture as a Service, helping organisations align business strategy with technology while reducing technical debt, improving security and lowering costs.

Many organisations invest heavily in digital transformation, only to find that ambitious boardroom strategies fail to translate into practical technology solutions. 

Axians UK believes it has the answer with the launch of its new Enterprise Architecture as a Service (EAaaS), a flexible consultancy offering designed to align business objectives with technical delivery without the cost of employing a full-time Enterprise Architect.

The London-based technology services provider says many businesses experience what it describes as a "boardroom vision gap". Senior leaders define the commercial goals, while technical teams independently develop solutions that can become overly complex, inconsistent and difficult to maintain.

EAaaS aims to close that gap by providing an architectural framework that connects business strategy with technology implementation, ensuring digital investments support long-term growth rather than creating fragmented systems.

Ian Parker, Enterprise Architect at Axians UK, explained to That's Business that organisations without a dedicated architectural approach often end up with disconnected technology estates.

He compared the situation to building a street where every house has different foundations and construction methods, making future maintenance unnecessarily difficult. By introducing common standards and governance, he said businesses can ensure that infrastructure remains consistent, scalable and easier to manage, regardless of whether operations span London, New York or Singapore.

The service is also designed with today's biggest technology challenges in mind. Rather than treating cybersecurity as an afterthought, Axians has adopted a Secure by Design approach that builds protection into infrastructure from the outset. Sustainability considerations are also incorporated into the architecture, helping organisations create technology environments that are efficient as well as resilient.

Dan Barton, Head of Consultancy at Axians UK, said businesses are operating in an increasingly complex digital landscape where cloud computing, artificial intelligence and hybrid working continue to reshape technology requirements.

He said establishing the right architectural foundations from the beginning enables organisations to embrace innovation while maintaining strong security and governance.

Another major advantage of the service is its potential to reduce technical debt. By eliminating duplicated tools, simplifying infrastructure and creating standardised designs, businesses can reduce operational costs while improving efficiency and making future technology projects easier to deliver.

Instead of hiring an expensive full-time Enterprise Architect, organisations can access specialist expertise on demand, allowing them to benefit from strategic guidance that scales alongside their business.

As digital transformation continues to accelerate, services such as EAaaS could prove increasingly valuable for organisations looking to build secure, efficient and future-ready technology foundations while keeping costs under control.

www.axians.com

www.axians.co.uk