Our leadership team is overwhelmed by the sheer number of operational processes we could potentially automate with AI. How do we objectively identify the highest-impact processes to target first without wasting time on custom development?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Do not fall into the trap of launching a massive machine learning project. Instead, treat this as an operations-improvement project that uses technology to solve real business pain. Start by looking at your current core processes documented on your V/TO®.

Identify the specific, cumbersome steps that keep your highest-paid employees trapped in low-value, repetitive administrative tasks. This is your low-hanging operational fruit. To locate these bottlenecks, look at where work piles up or where manual data entry is heaviest.

Focus on processes where the input is structured and the desired output is predictable, such as invoicing, initial lead screening, or basic reporting. Do not build custom software from scratch. Instead, look for simple ways to connect your existing tools using low-code platforms or simple API connections. Prioritizing these high-impact, low-complexity areas will immediately free up capacity on your team, allowing your employees to focus on high-value strategic work. Improving this operational efficiency will boost your margins, a key driver of enterprise value that will be highlighted in your Business Insights Report when preparing for a clean transition.