Haworth · AI Transformation Strategy

Member-centered AI
that leads the industry.

Augmenting creativity. Simplifying insight. Accelerating innovation.

Haworth's AI strategy embeds intelligence at every level of the enterprise — from everyday tools that help members work smarter, to advanced capabilities that unlock new value, to enterprise platforms that scale AI responsibly across the organization. AI is not a side project. It is becoming the connective tissue of how we serve our dealers, empower our people, and grow our business.

VP, AI Transformation: Isadora Godley
Strategy Version: 2026 · Phase 1 Active
Approach: Everyday → Expert → Enterprise

Vision & Imperatives

AI that amplifies
human potential.

Leverage human-centered AI to augment creativity, simplify data-driven insights, and accelerate innovation — with every member at the center of the transformation.

01

Treat AI as a Strategic Asset

AI and data are enterprise-wide priorities — not siloed IT projects. Every initiative connects to business outcomes across all divisions.

02

Align with Business Goals

Every AI initiative connects to a business outcome — enhancing dealer and customer experience, improving operational efficiency, or driving innovation in products and services.

03

Enable Adoption at Scale

Everyday AI for broad fluency. Expert AI for high-value specialization. Enterprise AI for governed, durable solutions. Each tier builds on the last.

04

Stay Human-Centric

AI augments human creativity, judgment, and productivity. It frees members from low-value tasks so they can focus on innovation, relationships, and problem-solving.

05

Uphold Responsible AI

Every decision involving AI — from concept to deployment — is guided by clear principles covering fairness, transparency, accountability, security, privacy, and inclusivity.

Three Maturity Levels

The three tiers
of transformation.

Level 1 · Broadest Reach
Everyday AI
AI tools integrated into daily workflows for every member — regardless of role or technical expertise. Tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot become as familiar as email. The goal: raise the baseline of productivity and innovation for everyone, and build the AI fluency that makes everything else possible.
Level 2 · Specialized Impact
Expert AI
Tailored AI solutions for specific domains, roles, and high-value tasks. Design. Sales. Analytics. Operations. HR. These are the power tools for power users — enabling subject matter experts to dramatically accelerate complex work, unlock new insights, and drive innovation in key disciplines.
Level 3 · Scaled & Governed
Enterprise AI
AI capabilities deeply integrated into Haworth's core business platforms — ERP, CRM, HRIS, manufacturing execution — supported by unified data architecture, robust governance, and an AI Governance Council that ensures responsible, scalable, and durable solutions enterprise-wide.

Responsible AI

Seven principles.
One standard.

Every AI initiative — from a Copilot prompt to an enterprise platform — is evaluated against these principles. They are not aspirational. They are operational.

🧑‍💼
Principle 01
Human-Centered
AI augments human work and decision-making. Humans remain in control at every step.
AI solutions are designed as assistants, not replacements. Human review is required for critical outputs.
⚖️
Principle 02
Fair & Bias-Aware
AI bias cannot be fully eliminated — but it must be continuously identified, mitigated, and managed.
Bias assessments before and after deployment. Diverse training data. Cross-functional review teams.
🔍
Principle 03
Transparent & Explainable
AI systems and their outcomes should be understandable and traceable for the people using them.
Clear disclosure when AI is involved. Sources and reasoning surface alongside AI-generated content.
🎯
Principle 04
Accountable & Responsible
Clear ownership of AI decisions, with human oversight at every significant decision point.
Accountable product owners for each AI solution. AI Governance Council reviews high-impact uses.
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Principle 05
Private & Secure
Protection of data privacy and security in every AI application, without exception.
Role-based access. No sensitive data in unapproved tools. Rigorous vendor security vetting.
🛡️
Principle 06
Reliable & Safe
AI services must be dependable and safe, with mechanisms to detect and prevent errors or misuse.
Extensive piloting before rollout. Fallback to human process when confidence is low.
🌐
Principle 07
Inclusive & Accessible
AI is designed and deployed to benefit all users — across roles, languages, locations, and abilities.
Multi-language training content. Accessibility standards enforced. Broad feedback loops at every stage.
"We're not experimenting anymore. We're reshaping our business with it."
Haworth AI Bootcamp · Member Sentiment

AI as the Work Experience Engine

Four outcomes.
Every member.

Based on feedback from members across all areas of Haworth — these are the four outcomes our AI strategy is built to deliver.

Outcome 01
Work Easier
Chatbots that provide information access and support workflows. Less chasing, more doing. AI handles the friction so members can focus on the work that matters.
🧠
Outcome 02
Smarter, Faster People
Foster confidence, better conversations, and stronger results. Every interaction becomes intentional and easy. AI elevates what people already know how to do.
Outcome 03
Better Experiences
Personalized, just-in-time information. Improved communication and experience where it matters most — for members, dealers, and customers alike.
📊
Outcome 04
Informed Decisions
Assisted forecasting, pricing, and product insights. From data and complexity to clear, confident choices. AI turns information overload into actionable clarity.
"AI is not a side hustle. It's becoming the connective tissue of how we serve our dealers, empower our people, and grow our business. We are choosing to lead, not follow."
Isadora Godley · VP, AI Transformation · Haworth

Phased Implementation

Three phases.
One direction.

The transformation unfolds in deliberate waves — each building capability, proving value, and preparing the ground for what comes next.

Phase 1
Enable
Active Now
Foundation-building. Core tools. Quick wins. Broad AI fluency across the organization.
Phase 2
Scale
Upcoming
Specialized AI deployed in priority domains. ROI proven. AI Champions network expanded.
Phase 3
Transform
Future State
AI embedded in core enterprise systems. Unified data. Sustained governance. Compound benefits.
Phase 1 · Active
Enable: Everyday AI Foundation
Roll out M365 Copilot to all members with focused training and use cases
Address data silos and quality issues that limit AI effectiveness
Launch AI governance policies and a cross-functional AI steering committee
Refresh the AI boot camp model to all members in target roles
Capture quick wins to build momentum, confidence, and organizational appetite
Phase 2 · Upcoming
Scale: Specialized & Scaled Solutions
Deploy Expert AI in priority domains: design, supply chain, sales intelligence, HR analytics
Curate and integrate data sources to improve AI effectiveness across functions
Expand AI Champions network and Centers of Excellence in each business area
Demonstrate measurable ROI in multiple functions and iterate based on feedback
Extend successful pilots globally across regions
Phase 3 · Future State
Transform: Enterprise AI Integration
Integrate AI into enterprise systems: ERP, CRM, PLM, HRIS, manufacturing execution
Achieve unified data architecture and advanced analytics capabilities enterprise-wide
Solidify governance, risk management, and compliance for all AI applications
Deploy cross-functional predictive analytics and global dealer-facing AI tools
Continuously improve using insights and feedback to drive further optimization

Change Management

Transformation is
a people journey.

Technology alone doesn't transform organizations — people do. Haworth's change management approach uses the ADKAR model to ensure every member is informed, engaged, and empowered to adopt AI in their work.

A
Awareness
Build understanding of why AI transformation matters
Transparent communication from leadership about the AI vision. Real examples of how AI addresses current pain points. Town halls, internal articles, and team meetings that emphasize opportunities and alignment with Haworth's mission. Our CEO and VP of AI Transformation make AI a recurring theme in all communications.
"AI is no longer a side project — it is becoming the connective tissue of how we serve our dealers, empower our people, and grow our business."
D
Desire
Foster genuine motivation to participate and explore
Show every member what's in it for them. Highlight how AI makes work more rewarding — automating tedious tasks, providing insight at one's fingertips, and enabling more creative, high-impact contributions. Address fears directly: AI is a tool for members, not a replacement of them. AI Champions share real success stories that inspire peers and normalize AI usage.
A sales team used an AI assistant to create a proposal in half the time. A designer accelerated a client pitch with generative design. These stories spread.
K
Knowledge
Equip every member with the skills to use AI effectively
A tiered training curriculum covering essentials through advanced use: AI 101 (prompting, using Copilot, understanding AI outputs), AI 201 (role-specific use cases, data literacy), and AI 301 (technical depth for developers and AI builders). All training incorporates our AI Principles — covering how to interpret AI suggestions, identify potential bias, and apply good judgment alongside AI assistance.
By the end of Phase 1, all members in target roles will have completed AI 101. Ongoing education continues as tools evolve.
A
Ability
Give teams the space to apply AI in real work
Knowledge is not enough — members need hands-on opportunities to use AI tools with adequate support. Early adopter teams pilot AI on real projects, with coaching from the AI Transformation team. IT support and AI Champions are readily available to troubleshoot. Workflows and standard work are adjusted to integrate AI — incorporating Copilot into meeting notes, email drafting, and analysis. Human oversight remains a requirement for critical decisions.
As we move into 2026, hands-on workshops where teams build real solutions together — not just theory, but practice.
R
Reinforcement
Make AI adoption stick for the long term
Measure and celebrate successes — hours saved, quality improvements, business wins. Continue executive communications. Integrate AI usage into recognition and reward systems. Track key adoption KPIs and report to senior leadership regularly. Keep content fresh as new tools emerge. Survey for signs of fatigue or frustration and respond. Change management is continuous — not a launch event.
KPIs tracked: % of members actively using AI tools · reduction in manual work hours · improvements in speed or quality of key processes.

Data Readiness

Data is the
fuel of AI.

Every AI initiative depends on the quality, accessibility, and governance of data. Haworth is undergoing a deliberate shift — from IT-controlled data silos to a business-led, federated model that puts data in the hands of people who need it.

The Cultural Shift Required

From Control → To Enablement
GIS-controlled, approval-based access Business-led, self-service data culture
Siloed data, fragmented systems Unified architecture, shared glossary
Shadow systems and workarounds Governed, discoverable data catalog
IT as gatekeeper GIS as enabler and partner
Data accessibility concern: 7.89% Addressing surge to 29.55% urgently
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Discoverable
Trusted Quality
🔒
Secure Access
📖
Shared Language
Real-Time Ready
🌐
Federated Gov.

Tools Driving Data Intelligence

🔎
Insight AI Portal
Enterprise search and Q&A on internal knowledge — helping members find answers, reports, and data definitions in plain language. Helps new members "speak Haworth" faster.
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Collibra Data Catalog
Business Glossary for terms, acronyms, and KPIs. Power BI report discovery with owners and access requests. Data quality rules, scores, and direct access to data stewards.
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Microsoft Purview
Monitors data use across the organization — detecting and preventing unauthorized sharing of confidential information. Ensures AI tools only access data they're approved to use.
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Global AI & Data Governance Council
Joint oversight body balancing GIS-led infrastructure with business-led enablement. Responsible for governance policies, AI model oversight, compliance, and vendor risk management.

Key Enablers

What makes
transformation possible.

Three concurrent areas of investment that underpin the entire strategy — without which AI initiatives lose effectiveness, adoption, and trust.

🗄️
Foundation
Data & Infrastructure
High-quality, well-governed data is the fuel of AI. Haworth is shifting from fragmented, IT-controlled silos to a unified, business-led data architecture. See the Data Readiness section for the full picture.
Phase 1: Fragmented data, Everyday AI exploration
Phase 2: Curated data, specialized AI optimization
Phase 3: Unified data, Enterprise AI at scale
🔧
Platform
Technology & Partnerships
A flexible, platform-agnostic approach — leveraging best-in-class solutions at each maturity level, with every vendor rigorously evaluated for security, privacy, and fit before integration.
Everyday AI: Microsoft 365 Copilot · Insight AI portal · enterprise search and Q&A
Expert AI: Responsive AI · Adobe Firefly · Autodesk AI · domain ML models
Enterprise AI: Microsoft Azure AI · SAP Business AI · Power Platform
Foundational tooling: data labeling, model management, monitoring systems
Microsoft Purview for monitoring and preventing unauthorized data use
🧑‍🤝‍🧑
Culture
Talent & Culture
Making AI ubiquitous at Haworth requires significant cultural change. We cultivate an environment where using AI is encouraged, continuous learning is supported, and every member sees themselves as part of the transformation.
AI Champions in each department who mentor peers and promote adoption
Performance and reward systems updated to recognize AI-enabled innovation
Honest, ongoing communication about how roles may evolve — with member input
Diversity and inclusion embedded in AI design: multi-language, accessible, global
Leaders model the mindset: lead with trust and confidence in our members

Centered on Members

AI is about enablement,
not surveillance.

Augmenting human work — not replacing it. Expanding what members can do. Freeing time for the work that only people can do. That's the transformation we're building.