COMPEL Glossary / proof-of-concept-poc
Proof of Concept (PoC)
A Proof of Concept is a small-scale implementation that demonstrates the feasibility of an AI solution in a controlled environment, typically using sample data and simplified conditions.
What this means in practice
PoCs validate that an approach works technically but do not address the production readiness, integration complexity, governance compliance, user adoption, or operational sustainability required for enterprise deployment. The dangerous assumption many organizations make is that PoC success predicts production success -- in reality, 60-80% of successful PoCs never reach production because the pilot-to-production gap involves fundamentally different challenges. The COMPEL framework addresses this by requiring production deployment planning, governance pathway design, and integration architecture consideration during the Model stage, before PoC development begins.
Related Terms
Other glossary terms mentioned in this entry's definition and context.