‘Don’t treat AI as afterthought,’ says Fan Ho – Technology News

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept—it is a critical lever for business transformation today. Yet, organisations often struggle to move beyond theoretical strategies into tangible implementation. There is a growing need for structured frameworks, responsible deployment models, and skilled talent to make AI truly enterprise-ready. In this interview, Fan Ho, executive director and general manager of Solutions & Services Group (SSG), Asia Pacific at Lenovo, speaks to Sudhir Chowdhary about how Lenovo’s approach is helping organisations turn AI vision into measurable outcomes. Excerpts:

Despite significant interest, AI adoption remains uneven across industries. What are the most persistent challenges?

The key barriers are not technological—they are structural. Organisations must address three critical areas before thinking about the tools: people, processes, and governance. In our experience, many enterprises are eager to experiment with AI, but lack internal capabilities and governance frameworks to deploy it  effectively. Our recent survey revealed that only 19% of Indian companies have a formal AI governance structure in place, compared to 25% across the Asia-Pacific region. Without this foundation, AI remains a pilot—never a fully integrated solution.

Is ROI on AI really measurable?

It must be measurable—and at Lenovo, we ensure that it is. Through our AI Fast Start model, we commit to delivering a working proof-of-concept (PoC) in just 90 days. This is not a prolonged six-month pilot; it is a focused, results-oriented engagement. Lenovo AI Fast Start is a solution that helps organisations quickly transition to AI-powered deployments, focusing on accelerated deployment and proof of business value.

A prime example is our collaboration with Formula One. They needed to scale video content production to engage a younger, digital-native audience. Using Lenovo’s AI-driven computer vision solution, they achieved over 99% frame correction accuracy, significantly reducing manual quality checks and accelerating time-to-publish. This is demonstrable ROI—measured in efficiency gains, cost reduction, and enhanced fan engagement.

How is India positioned in the broader context of AI adoption in the Asia-Pacific region?

India is emerging as a promising market for AI deployment, particularly in healthcare. We are seeing accelerated adoption in diagnostics and pharma  research. Several Indian hospitals, for example, now use AI to screen over 50% of medical scans, allowing specialists to focus only on complex cases. Similarly, AI-driven molecular modelling is transforming drug discovery processes in the pharmaceutical sector. Overall, compared to some APAC markets that remain cautious, Indian enterprises are more inclined to invest in AI over the next 12-24 months.

Many enterprises have a vision for AI but struggle with execution. How does Lenovo bridge this gap?

Our approach is fundamentally collaborative. We do not deliver AI solutions in isolation. Instead, we follow a build-transfer model. Our engineers co-develop solutions with clients and train their teams throughout the engagement. This ensures that once the PoC is complete, the client’s internal team is empowered to scale and manage the solution independently. In effect, we help them develop internal champions—what we call “green belts” in the Six Sigma framework – who drive future AI initiatives.

How does Lenovo address the talent gap in AI adoption?

Consider our work with Esky Logistics, one of Singapore’s leading logistics firms. They faced a talent shortage in physically demanding warehouse roles. Lenovo deployed a fully automated warehouse management solution, complete with robotics and AI. Not only did this increase capacity by up to 50%, but it also made the workplace more appealing to younger professionals by shifting roles from manual labour to tech-enabled operations. This is how AI can enhance operational efficiency while also addressing workforce challenges.

What does the future roadmap look like for Lenovo in AI?

Our long-term strategy is centred around Hybrid AI. We foresee a future where enterprise, public, private, and personal AI coexist. Increasingly, organisations are opting for on-premise or hybrid AI infrastructure, especially when dealing with sensitive data. Lenovo is uniquely positioned to support this shift—we are the only technology company that can offer solutions “from pocket to cloud.” As AI becomes more embedded in core business functions, our goal is to help enterprises adopt it responsibly, efficiently, and at scale.