Generative AI continues to grow in importance for executives globally and in New Zealand. There has been a large shift in outlook and adoption, with 70% of global CEOs and 77% of New Zealand leaders seeing Gen AI as a top investment priority in 2024. Of those using AI, 80% of New Zealand business leaders said it has had a positive impact on business operations. (Microsoft, 2024, PWC, 2024)
There is real opportunity to shift the dial and catch up with our global peers. More than just closing the gap, AI presents a chance for New Zealand businesses to compete on a global scale.
“The opportunity we have as a community in New Zealand and our place in the world is profound. I say that because previously, we haven’t had the mass and volume of labour of other countries,” says Bain Hollister, ClearPoint MD and Co-founder.
“But technology comes along like this, which is just driving a truck through that kind of concept. I can find a local firm in New Zealand that is AI-enabled, that can build me something with a few high-performing people and probably give me the same outcome as larger workforces. And that's a pretty cool and optimistic place to be, both for the clients and for their end customers, but also for ourselves as a country.”
One of the most common questions we hear from our clients is, “How do we start?”
With AI continuing to open up new business models and opportunity for sky-is-the-limit type scale, technology and business leaders should be thinking strategically. The potential is vast, but getting the groundwork right is essential – particularly in the planning stages, with a clear and honest understanding of your business's readiness.
“It starts with strategy,” says Rob Cleghorn, ClearPoint CTO. “There’s obviously lots bubbling from the bottom up, but leadership teams really need to step in.” Without clear direction, AI adoption risks becoming fragmented or misaligned with business objectives.
While AI adoption can feel overwhelming, Malen Hurbuns, ClearPoint’s GM Engineering suggests starting small is better than not starting at all, as long as it is tied to the overall strategic direction of the organisation.
For ClearPoint, this meant embedding an AI-first mindset directly into strategy – challenging individuals and teams to ask themselves, “Can I use AI to do this better and more efficiently on a day-to-day basis?’ An approach that not only fosters greater innovation across the organisation but ensures adoption is practical and purposeful.
And while there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to AI, a good starting point is clarity – with an understanding of business objectives and where AI can provide significant value. By focusing on key challenges and opportunities, businesses can find the right use cases to start with.
When strategy is set at the organisational level and small wins are on the board, there tends to be a natural progression towards a focus on larger initiatives like workforce efficiency or customer outcomes, looking at what experiences can be made better for customers and employees. “That usually flows into, well, let’s talk about your data – what you have, what you can use, and how you can make the most of it,” says Rob. “Because data is a big part of that discussion.”
Before committing to a full-scale AI deployment, it’s important to validate the solution on a smaller scale. Unlike traditional software engineering, where you go, ‘this is what we are going to build, this is the architecture, and this is the outcome’, AI allows, encourages even, a culture of exploration.
“We take ideas through a funnel, work out which ones are viable and which should be parked, and then test those ideas in Proof of Concepts (POCs),” says Rob. “It’s the fun, more innovative side of things, and allows you to move fast through short, sharp cycles and get pretty good outcomes.”
It provides confidence in a solution's feasibility and value, especially for those starting to move through the adoption journey.
ClearPoint partners with leading New Zealand organisations to navigate their AI journey. Learn more about our approach here.
It’s been a big year for the AI space, with the technology getting more powerful month by month and greater uptake enabling organisations to move with more efficiency.
In a survey of some of ClearPoint’s clients, it was seen that 46% of them utilised AI to improve workforce operational efficiency in 2024, with 25% using AI to get more value from their data. This shifts as we move through 2025, with 43% looking to use AI to get more value from data, closely followed by a growing focus on delivering AI solutions for customers and doing more with less in the software engineering space.
“The speed at which the technology is moving is quite fast,” says Malen Hurbuns. “There's been high growth in the number of engineers using AI coding assistants – getting more completed at a faster rate, with greater accuracy.”
With the advancing technology, comes closer connection and understanding between different teams. Enhanced AI capabilities are fostering greater collaboration between design and development, enabling designers to generate code for the things that they're making, while enabling developers to use design systems just by asking the AI.
Large language models (LLMs) are anticipated to move into architectural roles, replacing some microservices, and small language models are also gaining traction – offering more specific solutions, and in turn, a difference in when each model is used for the most relevant outcomes.
The good news? You don’t need a massive budget to see results. “You don’t need half a million or a million to upgrade your system,” says Malen Hurbuns, ClearPoint’s GM Microsoft Engineering. With the right tools and a small, focused team, businesses can achieve significant outcomes. This democratisation of AI technology is a game-changer, making upgrades seamless and advanced capabilities accessible to companies of all sizes.
Increase your team's confidence and capabilities. Explore our Software Engineering services to discover smarter, more efficient solutions.
While AI enables the rethinking of how businesses operate and innovate, and ‘doing more with less’ continues to be a significant theme across the market, enabling a high performance team is central to its success.
“ There's 101 basics that you need to do well in software engineering to be high performing, and AI is not an excuse to not do those,” says Rob.
Software engineering processes, including automation and pipeline optimisation, need to be in place to keep teams safe as they move with speed.
“As exciting as it all is, if you get the basics right, and then add AI into the mix – you’ll be able to move even faster, and be in good stead to go forward with whatever is coming, which is nothing but more,” he says.
AI governance frameworks and platforms: Developing and enforcing clear policies, procedures, and guidelines for responsible AI use, data governance, and ethical considerations is vital to protecting sensitive information, complying with regulations and mitigating risks across the business.
Enterprise readiness: Organisations need to be digitally mature and strategically aligned to embrace AI-driven application modernisation. Critical to this is a willingness to invest in developing proven AI use cases that deliver tangible business value beyond mere technological novelty.
Data enablement: Data is the foundation of any AI initiative, but it often needs to be organised and prepared before it can be truly valuable. Businesses must establish robust data infrastructure and processes to ensure data quality, consistency, and accessibility for successful AI modernisation.
AI-driven culture: The success of AI-enabled modernisation relies heavily on the people involved. Creating a workplace culture that embraces AI can help build trust, confidence and uptake among employees. This includes knowledge sharing around AI applications and encouraging experimentation with AI solutions to identify impactful use cases within the business.Cultivating a learning environment is essential, where organisations invest in training and development, equipping teams with the skills needed to thrive in an AI-enabled workplace.
One thing is clear: the industry’s fast advancements in AI, the rise of skilled AI and tech professionals, and the accessibility of new technologies are creating an environment rich with opportunity. For businesses, establishing an AI-first mindset is crucial, and the challenge lies in utilising these tools and resources to drive innovation.
At ClearPoint, we are inspired by the possibilities and committed to helping our clients reach their goals and navigate their AI journey. Regardless of the outcome you are looking for, we enable you to deliver practical yet inspiring solutions that align with your strategy and needs. Together, let’s unlock the full potential of AI.