West Monroe Replaces Slides with AI Apps in One Hour

Key Takeaways

1West Monroe replaces PowerPoint presentations with AI application demonstrations created in about an hour

2An internal app store of over 700 applications allows for the reuse of prototypes up to 40 times

3Since January, about one-third of initial interactions include a functional application

4These demonstrations still require integration, data, and change management before deployment

Why it matters : This approach accelerates the realization of AI projects for clients while posing new challenges in integration and adoption.

West Monroe has formalized an "app-first" approach since January: AI application demonstrations, built in about an hour compared to eight weeks previously, now initiate the first discussions. With an internal app store of over 700 reusable components utilized up to 40 times, the firm aims to anchor the conversation in practical usage. However, these demonstrations are not finished products and still require integration, data preparation, and change management.

Compressed Timelines and an Internal Catalog of Over 700 Apps

According to Bret Greenstein, creating a comparable deliverable took about eight weeks before the "app-first" shift. The first demonstration version can now be completed in about an hour. West Monroe relies on an internal app store that catalogs over 700 applications and models derived from its projects. Examples have already been reused between 30 and 40 times by adapting them to new client environments. This acceleration is attributed to the use of AI tools to produce a preliminary version more quickly.

Demonstrations Still Require Integration and Changes

Demonstrations are not final products, Bret Greenstein reminds us. Before going into production, integration, data preparation, process evolution, and change management still need to be addressed. During a discussion with a telecom client, the client requested a view combining hardware, software, and services, and the team modified the application on the spot. The format encourages discussions beyond the technical feasibility of an AI tool to address, from the outset, data availability, team ownership, and operational conditions.

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End of PowerPoints in Initial Meetings in Favor of Dedicated AI Apps

West Monroe has abandoned PowerPoint presentations in initial meetings, replacing them with custom-designed introductory applications. These apps highlight AI solutions tailored to expressed problems and aim to shorten the path to tangible results. Since adopting this approach in January, a functional demonstration or application is presented in about one-third of the initial exchanges. Bret Greenstein criticizes the use of slides in consulting and asserts that clients are primarily looking for results rather than an AI demonstration for its own sake.

A Telecom Case and the Tools Used for Prototyping

For a telecom operator, the team first gathered public information about its suppliers, priorities, and technology stack using AI, then leveraged its industry expertise to sketch out an agent system. Instead of providing a description, a prototype in the client's colors and powered by synthetic data was produced for the meeting to make the proposal tangible. West Monroe indicates it uses public tools such as ChatGPT Work, Codex, Claude Code, Google AI Studio, or Antigravity. The goal of these demonstrations is to concretely show how AI could transform work, combining in one step the intent of a slideshow and the value of a proof of concept. Founded in Chicago in 2002, the company employs approximately 2,000 people.