When private equity talks about AI, the first assumption is usually headcount: automate the work and cut the cost. The funds actually deploying AI are doing something else. FTI Consulting's 2026 Private Equity AI Radar found that portfolio AI initiatives lean toward revenue growth, not cost reduction.
The Numbers
- 41% of AI initiatives are focused on revenue growth.
- 35% balance revenue and cost outcomes.
- 24% are purely cost-focused.
FTI's explanation is simple arithmetic. Revenue is the bigger number, so "even a modest percentage lift in revenue often produces more absolute value than an equivalent percentage reduction in costs." Revenue-focused use cases also tend to show up in EBITDA sooner.
FTI also found that most initiatives aim low. About two-thirds of revenue and cost programs target a 5% to 10% improvement. The broader AI impact benchmark FTI cites, from Gartner, is 15%.
Where the Revenue Is in a Healthcare Roll-Up
In outpatient care, most revenue that AI can move is revenue the platform already earned the right to and then lost to leakage at the front desk:
| Revenue lever | Where it leaks today | What AI changes |
|---|---|---|
| New-patient conversion | Missed calls, after-hours voicemail, slow web form replies | Every call and inquiry answered and booked, 24/7 |
| Schedule fill rate | Open slots and late cancellations nobody backfills | Openings filled automatically from waitlists and recall lists |
| No-shows | One reminder, no confirmation, no rebooking | Two-way confirmation and same-day rebooking |
| Recall and reactivation | Overdue patients sit in the PMS untouched | Ongoing recall campaigns at every location |
| Local demand | Thin reviews and weak Google and AI search visibility | Steady review generation and visibility in search and AI answer engines |
None of these levers needs new providers or new chairs. They raise revenue per location on the same fixed cost base, which is why they expand margin rather than just grow the top line.
Why the Bar Should Be Higher Than 5-10%
A single tool, like a reminder system or a chatbot, can only move one lever. It makes sense that most programs aim for single-digit gains. The levers above are connected, though. A booked new-patient call fills a slot, a confirmed appointment protects that slot, a recall campaign fills the next one, and better reviews bring more calls. When one operating system runs all of them across every location, the gains stack.
That is the approach behind the Operations Engine (AIT). It runs scheduling, intake, recall, reputation and patient communication together. The Rollup Engine (AIP) then shows which locations and workflows perform best, so the best results can be copied across the platform.
Cost Still Matters
Revenue-first does not mean cost-blind. FTI's top cost priorities include labor productivity and process optimization. In a healthcare roll-up, those savings come from the same front-office work: fewer hours spent on phone tag, manual confirmations and data entry. The difference is that the time saved goes back to patient care instead of being cut, which protects the patient experience that drives revenue.
Measure It Location by Location
FTI stresses defining measurable outcomes before deployment and tracking benefits over time. With Samara, KPIs such as fill rate, no-show rate, new-patient bookings and reviews are baselined at each location before go-live, so sponsors can see revenue lift against a real starting point.
See the ROI calculator, read about Samara for private equity, or book a demo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are PE funds using AI mainly to cut costs?
No. FTI Consulting's 2026 Private Equity AI Radar found 41% of portfolio AI initiatives focus on revenue growth, 35% are balanced and only 24% are purely cost-focused.
What improvement do most PE AI programs target?
Most target 5% to 10% improvement in revenue or cost, below the broader 15% AI impact benchmark FTI cites.
Which revenue levers can AI move in an MSO or DSO?
New-patient conversion, schedule fill rate, no-show reduction, recall and reactivation, and local demand from reviews and search visibility.