What you’ll take away.
A practical decision checklist for your next AI strategy conversation, especially when weighing private AI against cloud-only approaches:
- Where does our critical data live today? Is it mostly on-prem, in specific regions, across branch offices or at the edge, and what regulatory or latency constraints apply?
- What can’t we move to public cloud AI, and why? Which datasets are blocked by regulation, data residency or internal risk posture, and where do we need absolute control?
- What outcomes do we want from private AI? Faster insight, new products/services, better customer experience, operational efficiency, or a combination?
- What scale do we really need to start? Can we begin with a tightly scoped pilot rather than a large up-front build? Which line of business will sponsor it?
- Which build model fits us: DIY, kit or turnkey? Do we have the skills, time and appetite to integrate infrastructure ourselves, or would a validated / turnkey platform de-risk the journey?
- How will we clean and prepare our data? Do we have a plan to remove noise, standardise formats and set access policies before we feed data into AI?
- Who needs to be in the room? Are IT, security, data leaders, finance and business owners aligned on objectives, risks and measures of success?
- How will we measure value, not just performance? Beyond model accuracy and response times. How will we track ROI, reduced risk, improved user experience and new revenue opportunities?
#1 Merging Technology and Interior Design: A Blueprint for Modern Workspaces.
An office isn’t a postcode, it’s a product.
In this episode of Future Ready with Bechtle, Stephen Harley (Field CTO, UK) sits down with Michael Harley (Head of Bechtle Interiors) to unpack why an IT company runs an interiors practice, and how space, culture, and technology must be designed as one system.
#2 The True Cost of a Cyber Breach. Why the Board Must Lead.
Cybersecurity isn’t an IT problem, it’s a business risk.
In this episode of Future Ready, Bechtle’s Pre-Sales Security Consultant Kaylie Watts sits down with Alice Lee, Head of Security, to unpack what recent high-profile retail breaches reveal about today’s threat landscape, and what leadership teams must do next.
#3 Network-as-a-Service (NaaS). Faster, Leaner, Greener Networks That Just Work.
What if your network felt like a utility; always on, right-sized, and someone else’s problem?
In this episode of Future Ready, Niamh Burgess-Smith (Hybrid Infrastructure Leader & Strategist, Bechtle) and Lee Alesbrook (Hybrid Infrastructure BDM) unpack why Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) is quietly reshaping IT: from energy-hungry legacy kit and weekend callouts to an on-demand, fully managed network that scales with the business and improves user experience.
#4 Environmental IoT. From “Smart” Hype to Measurable Outcomes.
Your building is talking. Are you listening?
In this episode of Future Ready, Stephen Harley (Field CTO, Bechtle) sits down with Stuart Pass (CTO, Qolcom | Bechtle Group) to demystify environmental IoT: the sensors, networks and dashboards that turn real workplaces into data-driven, healthier, cheaper-to-run spaces.
#5 The Power of Partnership: Why Co-Managed IT Is Reshaping the Modern Technology Function
Outsourcing isn’t about replacing IT – it’s about amplifying it.
In this episode of Future Ready with Bechtle, Stephen Harley (Field CTO, UK) sits down with Connor Slasberg (Head of Service Pre-Sales) to unpack what managed and co-managed services really mean for modern organisations.
#7 Why Most IT Strategies Fail (and How to Make Yours Actually Happen)
IT strategy isn’t about documents. It is about driving real change.
In this episode of Future Ready with Bechtle, Field CTO Stephen Harley sits down with fellow Field CTO Phil Curwood to explore why so many IT strategies look impressive in the boardroom… but never translate into action.