Beyond the hype: AI that delivers ROI
March 24 - 25, 2026
| Free PEX Network Webinar Series
DAY ONE
9:30 am - 10:00 am
EDT
PANEL: Laying the right data foundation for AI in processes
Rahul Chawla -
Lead BI Datawarehouse Engineer,
Google
Artificial intelligence can only deliver value in process excellence when it is built on a solid, trustworthy data foundation. Explore why data infrastructure, not algorithms, is often the biggest differentiator between AI fails and AI that scales. Industry leaders will discuss the realities of fragmented process data, legacy systems, and data governance, and how organizations can create the conditions for AI to improve outcomes.
Join to learn:
- Why data quality, accessibility, and integration matter.
- Common data infrastructure gaps that derail AI initiatives.
- The role of process data, operational data, and unstructured data.
- Practical steps process leaders can take to prepare their data landscape.
10:00 am - 10:30 am
EDT
Redesigning processes in the AI era
As AI becomes more ubiquitous, process excellence teams are being forced to rethink how processes are designed, governed, and improved. Learn how traditional process happenings, including standardization, handoffs, exception handling, and continuous improvement cycles, change when AI is part of everyday operational workflows. Among the questions posed: What does it really mean to design “AI-ready” processes inside large organizations? How can PEX leaders stay in control as automation becomes more adaptive and autonomous?
Key highlights:
- How AI embedded in enterprise systems reshapes process design principles.
- What “AI-ready” really means for standardized vs. adaptive processes.
- New roles for PEX teams as AI handles decisions, exceptions, and recommendations.
- Where human judgment must remain central in AI-enabled operational workflows.
10:30 am - 11:00 am
EDT
Why most AI transformations stall
Many AI initiatives in process excellence fail not because of weak models, but because organizations lack a clear, shared understanding of the true flow of work. This session explores the role of process intelligence in grounding AI initiatives in operational reality, which can reveal variation, bottlenecks, and unintended consequences. Understand how process intelligence helps PEX teams move from assumption-driven improvement to evidence-based decision-making in the new AI-powered world.
What you’ll learn:
- How AI ends up amplifying process problems.
- The difference between performance reporting and true process intelligence.
- How visibility into variation, rework, and exceptions changes AI use cases.
11:00 am - 11:30 am
EDT
Orchestrating AI for end-to-end process transformation
Many organizations are experimenting with AI in isolation, yet they struggle to turn these efforts into effective process improvement. Find out how executing on AI-powered business transformation strategies helps organizations move beyond fragmented initiatives toward coordinated, outcome-driven change. Consider what orchestration really means in practice and how PEX leaders can ensure AI delivers measurable impact rather than just disconnected automation.
Key highlights:
- Why isolated AI use cases rarely translate into business transformation.
- The role of orchestration in connecting AI, processes, and people.
- How PEX teams can prioritize AI initiatives around outcomes as opposed to technology.
- What governance and operating models are needed to support AI-driven transformation.
11:30 am - 12:00 pm
EDT
CASE STUDY - AI-led supplier invoice dispute resolution
Hichem Tlemsani -
Senior Platform Product Owner,
A.P. Moller - Maersk
Supplier invoice disputes are a persistent source of operational friction, which ties up working capital, straining supplier relationships, and consuming valuable process capacity. In this case study, learn how Maersk launched an AI-led initiative to modernize invoice dispute resolution. By combining data augmentation, machine learning models, and process intelligence, the organization is moving from reactive, manual handling toward faster, more consistent, and insight-driven dispute outcomes.
Join the session to discover:
- How Maersk identified invoice disputes as a high-impact, AI-ready process within its PEX roadmap.
- Designing an AI-assisted dispute resolution model that supports, rather than replaces, human decision-making.
- Practical lessons learned when trying to scale AI responsibly in finance-related workflows.
12:00 pm - 12:30 pm
EDT
PANEL - Beyond the hype: Stop talking about AI and start doing
Madhu Mukherjee -
VP Head of Transformation and Data Science,
USA TODAY Co.
The AI conversation has been loud, ambitious, and full of promise. But the real test is beginning now when the talk stops and execution begins. As organizations move past experimentation and pilots, AI is colliding with operational reality, including legacy processes, fragmented data, security concerns, and growing pressure to deliver measurable return on investment (ROI). Discuss what real-world teams are actively doing with AI in their day-to-day work. Find out what actually happens when AI becomes part of operational processes, what breaks, what works, and what it really takes to move from ideas to impact.
What you'll learn:
- What changes when AI moves from experimentation into daily practice.
- How teams are embedding AI into real workflows, not just running pilots.
- The practical realities of managing data structure, governance, and security at scale.
- Where organizations struggle to prove ROI and how leading teams are measuring value.
- How to turn AI ambition into operational results.
12:30 pm - 1:00 pm
EDT
PANEL - A return to systems thinking in the age of AI
Doug Shannon -
Global Intelligent Automation and GenAI Leader,
Thought Leader and Influencer
Ray Lund - Director of Transformation, Owens & Minor
As organizations race to adopt artificial intelligence (AI), many risk losing sight of end-to-end processes and long-term value creation. Some experts are sounding the alarm because people are failing to lay the right foundation before jumping into AI initiatives. Explore why systems thinking is more critical than ever. Learn how to integrate AI into holistic process frameworks, avoid siloed automation, and build resilient operations that thrive in a rapidly evolving landscape.
Join us for a lively discussion on:
- The importance of getting back to basics when adopting advanced tech.
- Ensuring processes are primed for the layering of AI applications and tools.
- How AI can enhance the operational ecosystem.
- What process excellence looks like in an AI-driven world.
1:00 pm - 1:30 pm
EDT
ROUNDTABLE: When the system improves itself, what is the role of process excellence?
Lucas Root -
Speaker, author, and AI thought leader,
LucasRoot.com
Wayne Butterfield - AI thought leader, Fractional chief AI and transformation officer
Andreas Welsch - Author of The Human Agentic AI Edge, AI Advisor
As AI systems increasingly learn, adapt, and optimize on their own, where does process excellence fit? This interactive roundtable, during which audience members can turn on their cameras and microphones, explores how the role of PEX evolves when systems improve themselves. Together, we’ll consider the future of process excellence when the technology can focus on continuous improvement on its own.
