AI Training Delivers 4–7 Hours Weekly Time Savings for Project Managers + Engineering Design Teams

Boosting Productivity by Up to 50% Across Project Teams
Q1/Q2 2025
Industry: Data Centre Engineering
Key Outcomes
4–7 hours saved weekly per project manager
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Productivity improvements of up to 50%
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90% reduction in time spent on research tasks
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Internal AI champions created to support wider adoption
"Tasks that once took hours now take minutes. I’m saving around four hours a week and expect that to grow as I build confidence with the tools."
Introduction

Building Competitive Advantage with AI

A leading data centre engineering company, operating across multiple EMEA countries, recognised the opportunity to stay ahead in a fast-moving sector by embedding AI skills across its teams. Instead of waiting for competitors, they chose to upskill their staff early, beginning with a pilot programme in 2024 and then rolled out to project managers and engineers.

The results were immediate: hours reclaimed each week, measurable productivity gains, and a stronger culture of innovation inside the business.

The Challenge

High-Value Engineers Buried in Admin

Project managers and design teams in the built environment handle complex, high-stakes projects. Yet too much of their week was consumed by:

  • Manual documentation and repetitive report writing
  • Time-intensive research and data gathering
  • Meeting notes and follow-ups that slowed delivery
  • Drafting communications for diverse stakeholders
Across a team, this meant the equivalent of several full-time roles were lost to low-value tasks - time that could instead be spent on design, coordination, and strategy.
The Solution

Practical AI Training for Project Managers

Rather than introducing new systems or disrupting existing workflows, the AI Institute delivered hands-on training tailored to specific project management and engineering design tasks.

Focus areas included:

  • Report Writing & Communications – generative AI for drafting and quality verification processes
  • Technical Research – faster answers through AI-driven search and synthesis
  • Meeting Documentation – automated transcription and action item extraction
  • Visual Communication – AI-assisted diagram creation and presentation development

Impact: Tasks that previously took hours could now be completed in minutes, freeing engineers and project managers to focus on strategic, client-facing work.

The Results

Measurable Gains from Day One

  • 4–7 hours saved per person weekly (measured across the team)
  • 90% reduction in research time (2–3 hours cut to 10–20 minutes)
  • In addition to productivity gains, 43% said they could do more strategic thinking
  • 100% tool adoption and innovation across the team
Time Savings (validated through participant feedback analysis)
Business Benefits:
  • Cost savings from greater efficiency
  • Faster delivery and clearer communication with clients
  • Improved work-life balance through reduced admin load
What Participants Said
On Time Savings
"Tasks that once took hours now take minutes. I’m saving around four hours a week and expect that to grow as I build confidence with the tools."
On Quality
"The AI training helps me check the quality of emails and reports quickly. Outputs are clearer, visuals more effective, and communications smoother."
On Team Culture
"The training encouraged us to experiment together. It created a positive, collaborative atmosphere and sparked knowledge sharing across the group."
On Strategic Impact
"AI is enabling our junior roles to cover more ground and giving senior staff more time for client and project strategy."
Why This Approach Worked
  • Practical, role-specific training tied directly to daily work
  • Immediate application with visible results from day one
  • Peer learning and team support during adoption
  • Measurable outcomes tracked across the pilot team
Looking Ahead: Scaling Across the Organisation
On the back of this project’s success, the company is now:
  • Rolling training out to additional teams and departments
  • Developing advanced modules for specialist engineering roles
  • Building an internal network of AI champions
Engineering and data centre teams that adopt AI early are gaining measurable competitive advantage. This case study shows that even without large system changes, practical AI training delivers immediate ROI and long-term benefits.
📩 Book a discovery  call to see how much time your engineering team could save.