CIOs, CDOs, and CSOs are under increasing pressure to operationalize AI, migrate legacy systems, and generate ROI from new technologies. Yet, the largest roadblock isn’t ambition—it’s whether your data is AI-ready. 

As 180ops co-founder and CPO Toni Keskinen puts it:

“AI doesn’t fail because of the algorithm. It fails because it’s being fed with the wrong information.”

WHY DATA READINESS IS STRATEGY READINESS

Every major enterprise initiative—whether AI adoption or CRM consolidation—begins with one question: Can you trust your data?

According to Gartner, 60% of AI projects that lack AI-ready data will be abandoned by 2026. Without clean, consistent, and contextually aligned data, neither AI nor CRM modernization can deliver business value.

THE COST OF FRAGMENTED SYSTEMS

Central to this issue is system fragmentation: CRM, ERP, contract management, and automation platforms each hold different definitions of your customers, revenue, and accounts. 

Leaders often discover this only during costly migrations—when inconsistencies can derail AI initiatives or derail data migration entirely. AI agents, similarly, need reliable data to make actionable recommendations—with poor data, they become liabilities, not assets.

READ MORE: The SaaS Problem: Siloed Systems, Siloed Priorities

When your data is fragmented, duplicated, and disconnected, you aren’t going to be able to get the accurate insights you require for growth. Building on this idea of data readiness in the video below is co-founder and CPO Toni Keskinen speaking with Michael Fauscette (an author, blogger, and thought leader on emerging trends in business, who is well worth a follow on LinkedIn!) on the Disambiguation podcast: 

THE 180OPS APPROACH TO DATA FOUNDATIONS

Rather than replacing systems, 180ops unites your existing data sources into a single strategic model. Through cleansing, entity linking, and enrichment, the platform delivers a unified basis for transformation.

This foundation unlocks:

• AI Enablement – Reliable, real-time data feeds agents trusted with insight and automation. 
• CRM Modernization – Reduced migration risk and faster adoption of modern platforms.
• Executive Alignment – A shared view of priorities, grounded in accurate, meaningful data.

As Toni explains:

“The real value is not in reporting what has already happened—it’s in showing what is possible, and aligning the whole organization to act on it.”

PREPARING FOR THE ROAD AHEAD

Gartner advises that AI-ready data is not a one-time task. It is a continuous process that requires organizations to improve their data management infrastructure as AI use cases evolve.

Leaders who succeed will treat data readiness not as an afterthought, but as a strategic imperative. They’ll ensure foundations are solid before pursuing new systems or agents, and build the infrastructure to scale as needs evolve.

CONCLUSION

Technology investments, from AI to CRM modernization, depend entirely on data. Without a unified, trustworthy, and adaptable foundation, even the most powerful tools will underperform. 180ops helps organizations turn fragmented data into a strategic asset, preparing them to act with confidence and readiness for whatever comes next.