AI to Production · tool 5 of 9
From Pilot to Production
From Pilot to Production: gets past the demo that never ships.
Best for: After a successful proof of concept · Time: Weeks
Domain: Across all domains · Focus area: Monitoring and Controlling
How it works
A pilot proves a thing can work. Production proves it works reliably, safely and at a sensible cost, with people who use it. Gartner predicted in 2024 that at least 30% of generative AI projects would be abandoned after proof of concept by the end of 2025. Treat the step as a project in its own right.
- Plan production work from day one.
- Budget for integration, security and support.
- Define who owns it after launch.
How to apply it
- Gate 1: real value shown on real work.
- Gate 2: quality, security and legal pass.
- Gate 3: limited rollout with monitoring.
- Gate 4: full rollout, with an owner and a budget.
A pilot works for ten users. Scaling means single sign-on, audit logs, a cost cap and a support rota.
Ask at the start: who’ll be paged when it breaks at night?
Use it
- Template: AI Go-Live Checklist (blank), filled example
- Playbook: Our AI pilot is stuck
Quick check
What does a pilot prove?
Sources
Last reviewed 2026-11-02 against the PMBOK® Guide, 8th edition · Practitioner review pending · How this guide is made