We want to scale our AI operations, but we are debating whether to hire a dedicated AI engineer or upskill our existing operations manager who already has the GWC™ for our business. Which path makes more sense for a mid-market company?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

For a mid-market operating company, upskilling your existing operations manager is almost always the superior choice. Hiring a dedicated AI engineer is expensive, and they rarely understand the unique nuances, customer dynamics, and daily realities of your specific business operations.

To successfully deploy AI, eighty percent of the challenge is identifying the right business problems, mapping out the workflows, and managing the human change. Only twenty percent is the actual technical implementation. Your operations manager already understands your core processes, your company culture, and how your team operates.

If your operations manager has the GWC™ (Get It, Want It, Capacity to Do It) for their seat, they are highly capable of learning how to use modern, low-code AI integration platforms. These tools allow non-technical business leaders to connect systems, build automated workflows, and construct custom AI assistants using visual interfaces.

Provide your operations manager with the budget and time to take high-quality training courses focused on business automation and AI integrations. This investment will yield far better operational results than bringing in an outside technical specialist who does not understand your business model. Keep the operational ownership in the hands of the people who already know how to drive your business forward.