Proof of Concept

Getting Out of PoC Limbo: Decide the Exit First

A proof of concept that goes nowhere is rarely a failure of enthusiasm or technology. It is a failure to define, before starting, what would justify going to production. In IPA's 2026 survey of Japanese firms, 91.6% reported AI made work faster; 3.9% reported higher revenue or profit. That gap is what PoC limbo actually looks like.