Tips, tricks and thoughts on hot topics in the digital industry | Globalia

Why Quebec companies need a ROI-driven AI strategy

Written by Veronique Gauvin | Nov 27, 2025 8:25:53 PM

In Quebec, as elsewhere in Canada, artificial intelligence is now an integral part of organizations' strategic discussions. Yet, despite growing interest, few Quebec companies are seeing a clear return on their investment. The problem is generally not technological, but rather the result of an overly experimental approach, which lacks roots in the real needs of the local market.

In many SMEs, municipalities, public organizations and large corporations in Quebec, AI is still being explored in the form of isolated initiatives, a conversational agent tested here, a one-off automation there. All without structure, without measurement and, above all, without any link to business objectives.

To transformAI into a competitive advantage in a Quebec context, we need to get out of "experimentation" mode and adopt an ROI-oriented approach.

Why many AI projects fail in Quebec

The findings observed in Quebec companies are similar: projects often start from a desire for innovation, but lack strategic alignment. They launch a POC (Proof of Concept), experiment with a tool, test a conversational agent... but without a clear framework.

This leads to projects that take too long, are poorly adopted by teams and are difficult to measure.
In a market like Quebec, where resources are limited and operational pressure is high, these approaches don't work.

They're not technological failures, they're methodological failures.

The ROI-first approach, an imperative for Quebec organizations

Globalia adopts a logic directly aligned with the realities of the Quebec market, before evaluating technology, we identify where AI can generate the most value in the business.

In sectors such as :

  • manufacturing
  • distribution
  • professional services
  • real estate
  • public institutions,
  • retail trade,
  • construction,
  • NPOs,

AI opportunities abound, but not all are created equal.

An ROI-oriented strategy therefore starts with an analysis of irritants, inefficiencies and costly processes, followed by prioritization based on potential impact. It's this discipline that enables Canadian companies to derive real value from AI.

Why speed is crucial in Quebec

Quebec companies rarely have the luxury of launching AI projects over 6 to 12 months. The market is evolving too fast, and the pressure on teams is too great. That's why Globalia favors a short, efficient model, an AI Sprint of around two weeks to go from idea to first working prototype.

In less than 10 working days, organizations obtain :

  • a validated use case,
  • an AI prototype adapted to their reality,
  • a credible ROI estimate,
  • and an analysis of potential gains.

This speed is essential in a Quebec context, where resources are limited, and management must justify their investments.

Measurable ROI, adapted to the realities of the Quebec market

Improvements must be demonstrable, not theoretical. Globalia always starts with a measurable starting point, a benchmark, to transparently measure the before and after.

The indicators most often used in Quebec :

  • hours saved per employee,
  • reduction in operational delays,
  • reduction in errors or rework,
  • improved customer experience,
  • optimization of resources in a context of labor shortage,
  • speeding up service or production.

These are real issues for local businesses and organizations, which have to deal with economic realities that differ from the rest of North America.

Ensuring internal adoption, a major challenge in Quebec

In many Quebec organizations, success depends not just on technology, but on internal collaboration. AI projects often fail for lack of team buy-in.

That's why Globalia integrates co-creation, UX design and user testing into every project.

AI must integrate naturally into daily life, respect internal processes (often well established in Quebec) and help teams rather than disrupt them. This is what guarantees a high adoption rate.

Governance and accountability: an inescapable reality in Quebec

Quebec companies have to deal with strict standards: protection of personal information (Bill 25), sectoral compliance, data sovereignty, ethical rigor.

Globalia has therefore established a structured framework that meets the compliance and transparency needs of Quebec organizations:

  • human supervision,
  • traceability,
  • data minimization,
  • ethical use,
  • hosting in the chosen jurisdiction (including Quebec).

This framework reduces AI-related risks and reassures IT and legal departments.

When AI becomes a strategic investment for Quebec companies

When used methodically, AI becomes a performance lever adapted to Quebec's reality of labor scarcity, pressure on margins, desire for continuous improvement, and need for modernization without technological heaviness.

An ROI-driven AI strategy helps organizations to:

  • move faster,
  • reduce inefficiencies
  • improve service quality,
  • make better use of their resources,
  • differentiate themselves in a highly competitive market.

It's an approach that's more realistic, more pragmatic... and better aligned with what Quebec companies experience every day.

Ready to discover your most profitable AI opportunities?

Globalia's AI Discovery Session enables Quebec organizations to quickly identify their top three use cases, estimate their ROI, and clarify a simple, measurable roadmap tailored to their business realities.

It's the first step in turning AI into a strategic advantage, right here in Quebec.