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When Allan Russell joined Musgraves as Head of AI and Process Automation, he thought the 147-year-old Irish retailer wasn't using much AI. Within weeks of his "roadshow" around the business, he'd uncovered 17 unauthorised applications—before even speaking to IT. Then the real numbers emerged: 300,000 hits to Grammarly in 30 days across just 1,700 office users. Shadow AI wasn't theoretical—it was rampant and ungovernanced. Rather than panic, Allan built a strategy around what people were already doing, rolling out Microsoft Copilot and establishing four pillars: process automation, AI, culture, and governance. His advice? Stop hesitating—your competitors are already using these tools. And never deploy AI without first talking to the people whose problems you're trying to solve.
Guest: Allan Russell, Head of AI and Process Automation, Musgraves
Key Topics:
[04:16] The shadow AI discovery - How an informal "roadshow" uncovered 17 AI applications before consulting IT.
[06:44] 300,000 Grammarly hits - Network data revealed 300,000 Grammarly hits in 30 days across 1,700 users, plus 1,200 ChatGPT hits.
[08:02] Four foundational pillars - Process automation and AI supported by culture and governance. Why psychological safety matters as much as guardrails.
[10:32] Rolling out Microsoft Copilot - Why starting with enterprise solutions beat playing whack-a-mole with shadow IT.
[23:32] Two pieces of advice - (1) Don't hesitate—competitors are already moving. (2) Understand pain points first. Design thinking beats technology-first thinking.
[24:57] Beyond internal consumers - What's next: recipe managers, price optimisation, identifying opportunities across Musgraves' franchisee ecosystem.
Key Takeaways:
Connect: LinkedIn - Allan J Russell
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