Artificial Intelligence (AI) is creating a fundamental transformation in the business world, yet many companies still limit this revolution to superficial applications, missing its true potential. Insights from industry leaders in Turkey reveal a clearer picture of AI's strategic power. While 41% of CEOs in Turkey state they use AI to move beyond efficiency and create financial value, 85% of global leaders surveyed by IDC expect to convert AI into revenue by 2027.
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt notes that while the world is in an AI race, most companies use the technology without a clear strategy. He highlights that while 75% of companies use AI in some form, only 10% place its "superpower" at the core of their business. The rest settle for minor time savings or cost reductions, ignoring the strategic potential of reinventing core processes and capturing new revenue opportunities.
According to McKinsey’s 2024 report, 72% of companies now actively use AI in at least one business process. However, a Boston Consulting Group (BCG) study shows that this adoption has not yet translated into sustainable business value for most. Only 26% of companies have moved AI out of the pilot phase to achieve concrete results, and a tiny 4% group has integrated AI across all corporate functions to achieve significant revenue growth.
Despite this, the "frontrunners" are optimistic. According to BCG's "Where’s the Value in AI?" research, leading companies expect a 60% increase in revenue and a 50% decrease in costs due to AI by 2027.
A CEO Survey by Fast Company Turkey shows that strategic awareness is rising locally. Out of 64 leaders, 41% use AI to create "new revenue streams," moving beyond mere efficiency. Engin Aksoy, CEO of Vodafone Turkey, views AI as a transformative force for all stakeholders, developing generative AI solutions ranging from digital assistant TOBi to coding support tools.
Prof. Dr. M. İrşadi Aksun of Özyeğin University suggests a "hybrid approach": implementing applications that increase efficiency while simultaneously focusing on high-value solutions for growth. Allianz Turkey exemplifies this, having launched 36 AI projects. Their Smart STP system provides 100% automation in health insurance provisions, processing 10.4 million files without human intervention.
Nermin Yalçı of Borusan Cat describes their digital transformation as a shift from a reactive service model to a proactive one. Their AI model, Müneccim, predicts machine failures with 97% accuracy. Similarly, Filli Boya has used its "Hey Filli" chatbot to provide 24/7 digital color expertise to roughly 200,000 users, with 61% of call center interactions shifting from voice to AI-supported text.
In the fast-delivery sector, Kaan Emeç of Getir describes AI as an "orchestra conductor" managing the entire logistics and supply chain system. Kiğılı CEO Sena Suerdem views AI as a strategic partner for deep customer understanding, while L’Oréal Turkey reported a 60% increase in consumer interaction through AI-supported digital services.
Pegasus CEO Güliz Öztürk launched the FlyGPT initiative in 2023, offering personalized travel suggestions to guests. Tosyalı Holding uses AI to automate 68,000 repetitive tasks annually and optimize risky processes in the iron and steel industry to increase worker safety. Odine CEO Alper Tunga Burak positions AI as a core component that proactively detects anomalies to prevent malfunctions.
Murat Pınar (CEO, Enerjisa Enerji) views AI as a strategic investment rather than just technology. Enerjisa uses AI for predictive maintenance in electricity distribution and has achieved 80,000 MWh of annual energy savings through AI-based analysis.
Banking & Finance: Gökhanalp Arslan of İş Bankası notes that their large language model, İşGPT, plays an active role in 80% of their AI projects. Garanti BBVA's assistant UGİ has engaged in over 63 million interactions, contributing to 70 million euros in additional revenue in the first half of 2025. ING Hubs Turkey uses the GenAI tool HyPE to increase time deposit sales by 40%.
Beko's AI Value: Utku Barış Pazar states that Beko launched 30 AI initiatives in the last year. Their Design AI platform accelerates design processes by 25%, while quality control systems in their dishwasher factory detect assembly errors with 90% accuracy.
Bahar Uçanlar (Mey Diageo): Using image analysis systems to detect risky behaviors in real-time, increasing risk detection rates by 20% in pilot applications.
Mert Baki (Yemeksepeti): Analyzing millions of daily interactions to provide personalized recommendations.
Veysel Memiş (Tat Gıda): Achieving over 7 million TL in savings through robotic process automation as of 2025.
Burak Aydın (Zorlu Holding): Doubling the resolution rate of digital assistants at Vestel, saving $1.55 million.
Ergün Günay (PepsiCo Turkey): Offering personalized campaigns via the KazandıRio app, which has over 35 million downloads.
