Let’s understand the framework we’ll be using.
This framework has evolved through trial and error. Initially, I started with just steps 4 & 5, but after multiple iterations, we’ve arrived at a comprehensive approach.
Here is why each of these steps is there:
Understand Business Objectives #
The first step is to understand the business objectives. It sounds obvious, but it’s vital to focus on the big problems keeping your leaders awake at night. Nail this, and you’ll find it easier to get approvals down the line.
Identify & Assess Opportunities #
Next, we’ll map out the customer and employee journeys to identify pain points. This will help us see where AI or other technologies can make a meaningful impact. But before applying any tech, we’ll also consider if these processes can be eliminated, optimized, or standardized. More on this tomorrow.
Score & Prioritize Opportunities #
Once we’ve identified the opportunities, the next step is to score and prioritize them. This ensures that we focus on the opportunities that align best with our initial business objectives. We’ll use spreadsheets to quickly create a heatmap of opportunities worth pursuing.
Identify Tech & Tools #
With our prioritized list in hand, it’s finally time to identify the right technology and tools. Here’s the twist: you likely already have existing tools in your environment. Most of the time, I find that we can leverage these existing tools, adding a few new ones as needed. We’ll discuss how to assess the suitability of AI and choose the best tools for the job.
Create a Business Case #
Last but not least, we’ll craft a compelling business case to secure stakeholder and leadership buy-in. We’ll explore both quantitative and qualitative metrics to make a convincing argument.
So there you have it—a 5-step process to get started with AI. If anything is unclear, feel free to reach out.