Make Them Love It! - An AI-Driven Digital Transformation Guide - By Sameer Sankhe
Make Them Love It! The Kindle Edition is now available worldwide on Amazon.
Why?
India Inc. spends billions on digital transformation, primarily on automation. While automation might yield incremental improvements, it's no longer enough to stay competitive or disruptive. This book aims higher—it seeks to help legacy businesses leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Transformation to fundamentally redefine their strategies, create extraordinary value, and guard against inevitable industry disruptions. Innovation through AI and other digital technologies is no longer an optional choice; it is now the central engine driving successful digital transformation. This book will guide you in creating your own Zerodha, Zepto, or Zoho from within your existing business, leveraging AI as a critical competitive advantage.
True digital transformation (AI or otherwise) requires profound changes in how organisations think and operate, especially in an AI-driven world. I've distilled my research, insights, and lessons learned—and unlearned—from years as a tech entrepreneur, intrapreneur, and consultant to Fortune 500 companies. This book serves as a vital resource, something you should revisit before and during your transformation initiatives, particularly to harness the power of AI strategically and sustainably.
What?
We start by examining the lightning-fast advances in AI, in Chapter 1, revealing how a lot of sectors could be disrupted sooner than many expect. We’ll explore adaptation strategies and spotlight the critical questions every organisation must ask.
How do you embark on significant, AI-centric innovation? Many organisations grapple with this question. Where do the best ideas come from? Where should leaders focus first? Chapters 2 and 3 trace the evolutionary paths of historically successful businesses—Google, Apple, Microsoft, Facebook—and examine whether these founders foresaw trillion-dollar achievements from inception or discovered game-changing concepts through a mix of trial, failure, and fortune. Crucially, we’ll also investigate how AI guided or reshaped their trajectories and how you can apply similar lessons, leveraging modern digital platforms for exponential growth.
A recurring question for AI-led initiatives is leadership involvement: must the CEO or founder be intimately engaged for radical breakthroughs to occur? Can ambitious teams succeed on their own, or does executive sponsorship remain pivotal? Chapters 4 and 5 dive deep into a case study to answer these questions and then extract broader lessons for your own AI-driven transformation. We’ll discuss how businesses move from conceptualisation to full-scale execution in AI, and the critical roles senior leaders play in steering and safeguarding those efforts.
In Chapter 6, we challenge you to rethink the very source of breakthrough ideas. Should organisations get 'inspirations' from the successful startups, hire consultants to think for them, or internal teams? Answering this is vital—choosing which problems to tackle can result in colossal payoffs, potentially worth billions or even trillions of dollars. Then, in Chapter 7, we profile a high-profile entrepreneur with audacious visions: how do seemingly impossible ideas germinate, and how does he repeatedly transform them into successful ventures? Are there replicable learnings in his approach?
Chapter 8 questions the myth that “execution” begins only after a plan is in place and that it simply involves “getting things done.” Instead, we explore an evolving, dynamic process—an interplay between leadership, rapid iteration, cultural norms, and constant customer feedback that fuels genuine innovation. Is it more important to set the right direction first, or move quickly? How do small, focused teams spark transformative progress?
With each step, the magnitude of what’s at stake grows—so a robust foundation is essential. The next segment of the book provides just that: foundational knowledge to keep you agile and well-informed as digital technologies evolve at breakneck speed. Chapter 9 explores Digital Platform Dynamics, detailing how digital-native companies rocket to multi-billion or trillion-dollar valuations so swiftly. Chapter 10 applies these principles to a well-known streaming platform, offering a replicable blueprint for your ventures.
Finally, Chapter 11 focuses on the unique characteristics of India’s digital ecosystem, pinpointing key elements that can either bolster or hinder homegrown innovation. If you’ve ever wondered how to steer your organisation—or yourself—toward long-lasting innovation, these chapters will point the way. Even if you’re already pursuing digital transformation, you may find game-changing insights that fuel more sustainable, profitable growth.
Who?
CEOs and senior executives of legacy Indian companies hold the power to drive genuine AI-enabled transformation; without their conviction, it won't happen. This book provides you with the tools, frameworks, and knowledge to lead effectively in an AI-driven world. From top executives to frontline employees, anyone involved in transformation initiatives will find significant value here. Startup founders will learn how to disrupt incumbents effectively, while investors—VC, PE, and public markets alike—will gain a clearer lens to evaluate companies in the AI age. Students will find this book an essential companion—I use these frameworks to teach an MBA course at NMIMS, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
While centered on AI-driven digital transformation, the principles inside apply universally. Whether you're setting up a roadside chai stall, launching the next big app, or rejuvenating your century-old family business, these ideas will serve you well. Regardless of your industry, location, or organisational role, this book equips you to think clearly, move faster, and build something sustainable and valuable. These are universal tools for creating meaningful, lasting value in our rapidly evolving, AI-centric world.
I hope this book ignites something more valuable than inspiration—the courage and strategy to build the next disruptive, AI-enabled business from within your company, before someone else disrupts you first.
