The ‘People, Process and Technology’ Triangle: The Key to AI Success in Enterprises
By Martin Veitch | Published 12 September 2025
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to shape the future of business, industry experts emphasize that successful AI adoption hinges not solely on cutting-edge technology but equally on the harmonious integration of people and processes. Debojyoti ‘Debo’ Dutta, Chief AI Officer at Nutanix, articulates this balance by highlighting the “people, process and technology” (PPT) triangle as the foundational framework for realizing AI’s true potential within organizations.
A Veteran Voice on AI’s Rapid Evolution
Debo Dutta brings a rich background in computer science, with advanced studies and research experience in neural networks, expert systems, and AI’s application to biology. His career journey spans India and California, culminating this year in his leadership role at Nutanix—a leading cloud software company known for enabling enterprises to run applications seamlessly across on-premise, cloud, and edge environments.
With Nutanix’s market capitalization surpassing $18 billion, and a reputation as a trendsetter in hyperconverged infrastructure and cybersecurity, Dutta’s insights provide a grounded perspective on AI’s opportunities and challenges for organizations moving into what he calls the “Brave New World” of AI.
Promise vs. Pragmatism: The Realities of AI Adoption
While there is much hype surrounding AI’s capabilities, Dutta acknowledges that the current AI wave is indeed both “real and surreal.” The rapid progress in reasoning models—large language models enhanced by reinforcement learning, such as OpenAI’s GPT series—has been nothing short of remarkable, enabling enterprises to explore new avenues of automation and intelligence.
However, Dutta warns that technology alone is insufficient. “The promise of the technology is there, as can be seen in agents, but you need people, process and technology,” he states. Without the right workflows, expertise, and cultural adaptation accompanying AI tools, organizations risk missing or squandering the transformative impact.
People: The Essential Human Element
Successful enterprise AI integration requires significant retraining and active human involvement, especially as AI agents increasingly work with sensitive private data. Dutta stresses the importance of “fine-tuning” AI systems with the “human in the loop” approach, ensuring that IT professionals evolve into AI-fluent workers.
Moreover, mass adoption of common AI tools across the workforce is vital to prevent early enthusiasm from fading into stagnation. Employees who incorporate AI into their daily routines gain a deeper understanding and drive innovation forward—an approach Dutta likens to “eating your own dog food.” Yet this cultural shift can also result in “Jevons Paradox,” where efficiency gains spur further demand, challenging organizations to continually adapt.
Process: Governance and Collaboration Are Crucial
Enterprise AI demands robust data governance and well-defined operational processes. At Nutanix, Dutta underscores that private data must be “clean” and compliant with governance guardrails, especially when deploying AI applications on-premise. Rapid proof-of-concept development is feasible using platforms like OpenAI or Gemini, but scaling and production usage require stringent oversight and collaboration with data science teams.
From an organizational perspective, Dutta advocates for a matrix structure where the Chief AI Officer collaborates closely not only with CIOs and CISOs but also legal, product development, and engineering departments. Such cross-functional “virtual teams” help prevent siloed efforts and facilitate rapid adaptation amidst the fast-moving AI landscape.
Technology: Tools Are Evolving, But Human Oversight Remains Vital
Although AI is advancing quickly, certain domains—such as AI-augmented software development—still necessitate human expertise for effective prompt engineering and the management of complex domain logic. Meanwhile, agent-based AI continues to evolve, offering digital assistants capable of handling repetitive tasks, spotting anomalies, and generating initial drafts of complex documents.
To support AI success, infrastructure components like storage and networking must be optimized. Looking further ahead, quantum computing presents promising potential as a powerful ally to AI systems.
Looking Forward: The Future of AI Success
Dutta envisions a future where “digital minions” serve as indispensable assistants, elevating human productivity while freeing workers to focus on higher-order challenges. Achieving this vision requires a steadfast commitment to the PPT triangle—ensuring technology innovations are matched with skilled people and well-designed processes.
Enterprises ready to embrace this holistic approach will be well-positioned to capitalize on AI’s transformational possibilities and navigate the complexities of integration, ultimately ensuring that AI delivers lasting value and competitive advantage.
For more insights on developing AI capabilities and strategies for overcoming technical challenges, explore our dedicated resources and expert perspectives at Computer Weekly.
