Portal26 unveils AI tool to measure GenAI business impact

Portal26 has launched an AI Value Realisation module that provides enterprises with a structured way to assess returns from generative AI programmes, using ongoing data from employee usage.

The announcement comes as organisations face growing pressure from boards and finance leaders to justify AI spending. Industry research cited by Portal26 suggests a wide gap between adoption and measurable outcomes: studies have found that 95% of enterprise generative AI proofs-of-concept fail. In comparison, 56% of CEOs report no return on investment from generative AI.

At the same time, daily users often report individual productivity gains. Portal26 cited figures showing that 92% of daily AI users say they see productivity improvements. The contrast is increasing emphasis on governance, prioritisation and cost control as companies move from early experimentation to wider deployment.

From usage to strategy

The module sits within Portal26's broader GenAI adoption platform and is positioned as a decision-support layer that turns behavioural signals into guidance on where to invest and what to scale. It analyses demand, cost, productivity and business impact across an organisation.

Developed with enterprise "design partners", the module reflects issues organisations report when moving from pilots to production. Portal26 described a common pattern in large companies: teams adopt tools quickly, while central planning lags. That can lead to inconsistent policy enforcement, weak measurement and overlapping spend across departments.

Portal26 said customers using the module see improved outcomes as they move proofs of concept into production, including improvements in AI utilisation, business impact and cost metrics. It also cited changes to agent design, rollout processes, employee education and policy compliance.

Broader buyer group

Portal26 has previously marketed its platform mainly to Chief Information Officers and Chief Information Security Officers. It is now expanding its target audience to include finance, HR and dedicated AI leadership roles. The AI Value Realisation module is aimed at Chief AI Officers overseeing AI programmes, AI Product Managers managing agent development, Chief Finance Officers scrutinising cost and return, and Chief People Officers focused on workforce initiatives.

This wider buyer group reflects an internal shift underway in many enterprises. Finance teams increasingly want clearer attribution of savings or revenue impact. HR teams want visibility into how employees use AI tools and whether training links to outcomes. Technology leaders often sit between those demands and the need to manage security, compliance and procurement.

Three-part platform

Portal26 framed the module as the third pillar in its approach to enterprise generative AI adoption. Its existing products cover shadow AI discovery and security controls for generative AI tools.

Shadow AI refers to the use of AI applications outside approved corporate processes, including consumer tools used with work data, unapproved browser extensions, or separate departmental accounts. Many organisations see this as a governance and data leakage risk. Portal26 said its Shadow AI Discovery Engine addresses what it calls "Zero-Day Shadow AI" across the enterprise.

Portal26 said the security portion of the platform includes data security, policy enforcement, risk management, incident management, audit and forensics. It also offers GenAI Licence Intelligence, positioned around visibility into licences and usage.

Executive comments

Portal26 said the module is based on continuous signals about how AI is used across an organisation, rather than periodic surveys or manual reporting.

"Portal26 receives continuous granular signals from across the enterprise and analyzes them for demand, cost, productivity, and impact on an ongoing basis," said Arti Raman, CEO, Portal26. "This allows Portal26 to not only predict high-impact use cases at any given time but also support that with the full package of how these should be built and deployed. Additionally, Portal26 is in a unique position to track how AI needs change over time and to manage the effectiveness of all deployed AI. This level of decision support is unprecedented and extremely valuable for AI leaders."

Portal26 also linked the product to the tension between adoption pressure and measurable returns.

"Companies everywhere are struggling to balance the intense pressure to adopt GenAI with the lack of return," said Pakshi Rajan, Chief GenAI & Product Officer, Portal26. "Our AI Value Realisation module is the only solution that allows the organisation to proactively build AI-powered use cases with pre-determined impact and competitive advantage."

Portal26 said the module supports investment decisions and cost management, alongside information for agent development and return tracking, as enterprises shift from experimentation with generative AI to more formalised deployments across business functions.