20 things to do before you add AI to your business

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20 actionable checks.

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PART 01

01. Define the outcomePick one measurable business result, like turnaround time or error reduction.
02. Map the processWrite down each step, owner, system, decision, and handoff.
03. Measure the baselineRecord current costs, volume, cycle time, and rework.
04. Find the actual bottleneckLook for delays, missing information, repeated entry, and approvals.
05. Check whether a rule is enoughA form, template, or deterministic automation may solve the problem better.

PART 02

06. Identify sources of truthKnow where authoritative customer, finance, and policy records live.
07. Clean the inputsFix missing fields, duplicates, and conflicting terminology.
08. Classify sensitive dataSeparate public, confidential, and regulated information.
09. Limit accessGrant agents and integrations only the permissions they need.
10. Set retention rulesSpecify how long prompts, files, and outputs are stored.

PART 03

11. Start with one pilotChoose a frequent, well-defined, lower-risk process.
12. Draw the decision boundaryDecide what an automated system may decide and what requires approval.
13. Define exception handlingPlan for failed APIs, missing files, unexpected formats, and contradictions.
14. Assign an ownerGive one person responsibility for results and incident response.
15. Keep a human handoffMake escalation clear, visible, and fast.

PART 04

16. Prepare test casesInclude realistic edge cases and failures, not just ideal examples.
17. Choose success metricsMeasure time saved, accuracy, reliability, and customer outcomes.
18. Evaluate costInclude vendor fees, maintenance, oversight, and integration effort.
19. Train your teamDocument the new workflow and the right way to intervene.
20. Review after launchSchedule checks of performance, drift, errors, and ongoing value.

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