Beyond Productivity: Finding Real AI Value in Professional Services

Professional services firms are facing a paradox: AI adoption jumped 40% last year, yet executive confidence in real-time visibility declined year over year, and revenue growth slowed to roughly half the industry’s historical benchmark, according to SPI. More tools. More investment. But not necessarily better outcomes.

The problem isn’t the technology — it’s how firms are applying it.

In this session, Dave Valliere, Founder & CEO of Form & Function Consulting and former CEO of Velir Studios, explores why leading professional services firms are shifting from productivity gains to operational intelligence — and what it takes to build a more scalable, predictable, and valuable business in the age of AI.

We discuss:

• Why AI investments aren’t showing up in margins — and what’s actually standing in the way
• The difference between being AI-enabled and AI-ready
• How leaders should think about AI ROI beyond productivity metrics
• How to keep critical expertise from walking out the door
• The decisions services leaders should make in the next 90 days