AI-First Strategies: Transforming Businesses with Customized Solutions and Measurable Outcomes with Mal Vivek

Business of Tech: Daily 10-Minute IT Services Insights

Mal Vivek, founder and CEO of Zeb, discusses the rapid growth of her firm, which has become a leader in digital and AI transformation. Zeb has established itself as one of the fastest-growing AWS Premier Tier and Databricks partners, primarily by addressing the challenges small and medium businesses face in implementing AI solutions. Vivek emphasizes the importance of understanding each client's unique business model and tailoring AI solutions to meet their specific needs, rather than offering a one-size-fits-all approach.

Vivek highlights the significant shift in lead generation strategies among their clients, who are increasingly utilizing AI to create more targeted and high-quality leads. This change reflects a broader trend where businesses are moving away from traditional lead lists and instead developing custom AI systems that align with their ideal customer profiles. Additionally, she notes the importance of training and upskilling employees through AI, enabling them to access vast amounts of knowledge quickly and efficiently.

The conversation also touches on the concept of an "AI-first strategy," which varies in definition across different organizations. For Zeb, this strategy involves identifying repetitive tasks that can be enhanced through AI while ensuring that the human touch remains integral to the customer experience. Vivek stresses the need for restraint in digital transformation, arguing that not every process should be automated, especially when personal interaction is a key component of a business's success.

Finally, Vivek discusses the evolving business models driven by AI, including a shift towards value-based pricing. She explains how Zeb structures its pricing around measurable outcomes and mutual agreements on success metrics, ensuring that both the firm and its clients benefit from the results achieved. This approach not only fosters accountability but also aligns the interests of Zeb with those of its customers, ultimately driving better business outcomes.

💼 All Our Sponsors

Support the vendors who support the show:

👉 https://businessof.tech/sponsors/

🚀 Join Business of Tech Plus

Get exclusive access to investigative reports, vendor analysis, leadership briefings, and more.

👉 https://businessof.tech/plus

🎧 Subscribe to the Business of Tech

Want the show on your favorite podcast app or prefer the written versions of each story?

📲 https://www.businessof.tech/subscribe

📰 Story Links & Sources

Looking for the links from today’s stories?

Every episode script — with full source links — is posted at:

🌐 https://www.businessof.tech

🎙 Want to Be a Guest?

Pitch your story or appear on Business of Tech: Daily 10-Minute IT Services Insights:

💬 https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/businessoftech

🔗 Follow Business of Tech

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28908079

YouTube: https://youtube.com/mspradio

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/businessof.tech

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mspradio

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@businessoftech

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mspradionews

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.