Case Study: Transforming Business Research and Strategy with Merlin AI

A Conversation with Sarah Thompson, Senior Vice President of Strategy at an Anonymous Business Consultancy Firm

AT A GLANCE

• 70% reduction in research time
• 60% improvement in strategy development efficiency
• 35% increase in client satisfaction

HEADQUARTERS
New York, NY

INDUSTRY
Business Consultancy

KEY FEATURES USED

• Merlin AI
• Merlin for google search
• PDF Chat
• Market Research with web access & citiation
• Merlin on Gmail

Introduction

A leading business consultancy firm leveraged Merlin AI to enhance its research capabilities and streamline the development of business strategies by comparing multiple products. We spoke with Sarah Thompson, the Senior Vice President of Strategy at the firm, to understand how the deployment of Merlin AI revolutionized their business operations.

About Sarah Thompson

Sarah Thompson is the SVP of Strategy at this renowned business consultancy firm. With a strong background in strategic planning and business operations, Sarah has been pivotal in driving growth and innovation within the firm. She has a particular interest in employing technology to optimize business processes and enhance client outcomes.

The Pursuit of Generative AI

Sarah explained, "As a consultancy firm, we were constantly seeking ways to streamline our operations and offer superior services to our clients. We realized that leveraging AI could be revolutionary. After exploring various options, Merlin AI emerged as the standout choice due to its advanced capabilities and robust privacy features."

Use of Generative AI in the Firm

Sarah elaborated, "We use generative AI across multiple domains—research, strategy development, finance, and communication. We envision generative AI creating personalized client experiences, automating repetitive tasks, and streamlining our research and strategy development processes. The potential applications are endless."

Prioritizing Initial Use Cases

The firm initially focused on structured, low-revenue risk content, such as internal reports and client communication templates. "These use cases allowed us to experiment without significant negative impact," Sarah explained.

Impactful Initial Use Cases

Efficient Research with Citations

Sarah shared, "One of our first major successes was in enhancing our research capabilities. Using Merlin AI, we reduced the time required for comprehensive research by 70%. The AI-powered citation feature was particularly useful, ensuring accuracy and credibility in our research reports. This allowed our consultants to spend more time on analysis and less on data collection."

Improved Strategy Development

Sarah continued, "Merlin AI also transformed our strategy development process. By automating the comparison of multiple products and analyzing market trends, Merlin AI enabled us to develop more effective strategies 60% faster. This not only saved time but also improved the quality and precision of our strategic recommendations."

Enhanced Client Communication

Sarah noted, "Merlin AI also improved client communication. AI-generated emails and updates ensured consistency and professionalism, while chatbots handled basic inquiries, allowing our consultants to concentrate on more complex tasks. This resulted in a 35% increase in client satisfaction."

Building AI Chatbots with Merlin AI

Sarah highlighted the efficiency gains from Merlin AI: "We can now develop AI chatbots in days, rather than months. The combination of no-code tools and the Merlin Framework allows seamless collaboration between business and engineering teams."

International Expansion

The firm utilized Merlin AI to explore international markets. "We used Merlin to conduct market research and adapt our content quickly for different regions. This strategic advantage allowed us to enter new markets with minimal investment," Sarah noted.

Marketplace Analysis

Sarah described another impactful use case: "Using Merlin AI for comprehensive marketplace analysis has significantly cut down the time needed for preparing detailed reports from 30 hours a month to just 8 hours."

Quick Apps for Teams

Merlin's ease of use inspired the creation of custom quick apps for various tasks. "Creating apps for comparing business products or other repetitive tasks has become simple and efficient, enhancing productivity," Sarah stated.

Measuring the Impact of Generative AI

Sarah emphasized the importance of early wins: "Merlin AI has brought significant time savings and improved employee satisfaction, fostering a more innovative culture."

AI in Business Consultancy

Commenting on future trends, Sarah said, "Generative AI will revolutionize business consultancy by providing personalized solutions and streamlining processes. The ability to adapt language and recommendations based on client data will transform client interactions."

Recommendations for AI Leaders

Sarah advised, "To overcome the initial fear and doubt, start with specific, manageable use cases that demonstrate clear value. Fostering an iterative learning environment is crucial."

Future Plans

The firm plans to integrate more end users in the AI app development process. "Educating our team on the power of prompting and the capabilities of no-code tools is our next big focus. This will further empower our staff to innovate and solve problems," Sarah concluded.

Conclusion

Merlin AI has profoundly impacted the consultancy firm, enabling faster market entry, more efficient operations, and enhanced client satisfaction. The firm's journey with generative AI underscores the importance of strategic