You don't need a computer science degree to use AI in your business — just like you don't need to understand how combustion engines work to drive a car. What you need is a clear understanding of your business problems and a reliable partner to build the solutions. Here's how to get started.
Step 1: Map your pain points
Before talking to any vendor, spend a week observing where your team loses time. Ask your people: "What task do you wish someone else could handle?" The answers will reveal your highest-impact automation opportunities. Common ones include: data entry, customer inquiries, scheduling, report generation, and follow-up emails.
Step 2: Prioritize by impact and feasibility
Not every pain point is equally worth automating. Rank your opportunities on two axes: business impact (how much time/money it saves) and feasibility (how structured and repeatable the task is). Start with high-impact, high-feasibility wins — these are your quick ROI opportunities.
Step 3: Choose the right partner
Look for a partner who speaks business language, not just tech jargon. The right automation partner will:
- Start by understanding your business, not pitching their technology
- Offer a free or low-cost assessment before asking for commitment
- Show case studies from businesses similar to yours
- Explain what they're building in plain language
- Provide clear pricing with no hidden costs
Step 4: Start with a pilot
Don't try to automate everything at once. Pick one process, automate it well, measure the results, and use that success to build momentum for broader adoption. A typical pilot takes 1-2 weeks and costs a fraction of what you'd spend on a new hire.
Step 5: Scale what works
Once your pilot proves the value, expand systematically. Each successful automation builds your team's confidence and creates a foundation for the next one. Most of our clients start with one process and end up automating five or more within six months.