GenAI – A Catalyst to Transform the Op Model

GenAI – A Catalyst to Transform the Op Model

Private Equity Portfolio COOs face increasing pressure to unlock value from GenAI, yet the reality is sobering: only 5% of portfolio companies successfully scale these initiatives beyond the pilot stage, unable to demonstrate short-term value, and not able to turn GenAI strategy into execution.

To operationalize GenAI at scale, COOs must embrace a pragmatic, results-driven approach that integrates GenAI into the fabric of core operations. These cannot be one-off initiatives, justified by ambitious run-rate ROI promises. Change at scale requires a relentless focus aimed at improving the “ways of working”.

With over $1.5 billion in EBITDA improvements across 60+ PE engagements, SSA & Co. has a proven track record of turning technology ambition into measurable business outcomes. Our GenAI playbook is designed to move with pace and deliver within holding periods.

GenAI as Operating Model Transformation

SSA & Co. approaches GenAI not simply as a technology initiative, but as a catalyst for operating model transformation. This means aligning GenAI deployment with enterprise strategy by defining operational objectives, redesigning end-to-end processes, creating role clarity and workforce alignment, enhancing information flow and data availability, rethinking KPIs, and re-evaluating governance. By embedding GenAI across these dimensions, businesses can deliver structural value, not isolated efficiency gains.

Embedding GenAI into Core Operations

GenAI can be embedded into core operational functions in almost any industry. In supply chains, particularly in retail, CPG, and industrial sectors, GenAI enables a shift from traditional forecasting to real-time demand sensing. For example, SSA & Co has helped:

· A PE-owned beauty business saw an 80% increase in inventory fill rates after scaling GenAI-powered demand models across its network.

· In manufacturing, GenAI supports predictive maintenance by analyzing IoT sensor data to detect equipment degradation before failure. A PE-backed packaging company improved uptime by ~15%, reducing downtime and lowering maintenance costs.

· In the back-office, deploying GenAI to automate manual work and identify inefficiencies through process mining. A healthcare technology client achieved a 40% improvement in speed-to-revenue by combining automation with organizational reskilling and streamlined workflows.

In each case, value was unlocked by integrating GenAI into the broader operating model and redefining operational norms, routines, and governance.

SSA & Co.’s Playbook Designed for PE Speed and Discipline

SSA & Co.’s playbook, built for speed and agility, directly addresses three primary GenAI initiative derailers in private equity environments.

1) Pilot Purgatory: The lack of upfront value definition leaves many pilots unable to demonstrate impact. Gartner, reporting at the World Economic Forum, found that 85% of PE portfolio companies fail to scale beyond proof-of-concept. SSA & Co.’s Rapid Impact Methodology ensures that each initiative is designed with clear paths to scale, avoiding isolated IT experiments. This methodology explicitly ties GenAI use cases to operating objectives and KPIs, ensuring that every initiative is accountable to business results.

2) Data Fragmentation: Data fragmentation is common in portfolio companies, especially those formed through acquisition. SSA & Co.’s Data-Driven Management System and Control Tower^SM solution delivers rapid results, creating a “single-view” of the business while building underlying governance structures for long-term scalability. These tools not only improve information availability and flow but also support data governance aligned with the transformed operating model.

3) People and Culture Transformation: Technology alone doesn’t drive results. GenAI adoption through change management, embeds tools into daily operations. We focus on role clarity and cross-functional alignment - critical elements of a successful operating model transformation. This integrated approach aligns people, processes, and platforms to maximize GenAI’s impact.

SSA & Co. is purpose-built for the speed and accountability demanded by private equity. We map operational friction before introducing technology. We target EBITDA improvement in timelines measured in months, building credibility and momentum quickly. Execution is led by cross-functional teams anchored by the COO and includes data scientists, process owners, and frontline managers. We embed directly into client operations across multiple levels, bringing practical insights that go beyond boardroom strategy. This shoulder-to-shoulder model ensures that GenAI deployments are owned by the business and sustained long after we are gone.

From 5% to Scaled Success

GenAI revolution is not about whether to act, it’s about how to move quickly and scale effectively. Pace requires practical, battle-tested experience and business know-how focused on tangible outcomes, operational integration, and cultural adoption. In today’s environment, where execution speed defines value, SSA & Co. enables portfolio companies to join the successful 5% who turn GenAI into a lasting performance advantage. SSA & Co. helps COOs lead where others stall - by turning GenAI strategy into operational advantage within the timelines that matter.