A Practitioner's Perspective: Four Keys To Success For A AssS-To-AI Transition

"AI Is the New Saas" is a two-article miniseries jointly created by the AlixPartners private equity and technology teams. It is part of a larger campaign on the future of enterprise software called "The End of a Software Era." Read all articles in the series here

As we stated in our previous article 'Farewell, SaaS: AI is the future of enterprise software,' the challenge for enterprise software companies goes far beyond simply launching artificial intelligence (AI) agents or generative AI (GenAI) solutions. These companies must also transform the ways they work across internal teams, processes, and customer touchpoints.

For leaders of enterprise software companies, the question is clear: How do you evolve the software-as-a-service (SaaS) model so it not only uses AI but is centered around it? Those that succeed will adapt their business models and ensure that every function—from product development to sales, to finance, to operations—is equipped and ready for