We are looking to utilize AI-powered tools to automate our operations, but we are struggling to figure out how to evaluate these automated processes within our weekly Level 10 Meeting and IDS sessions. How do we identify which manual bottlenecks are the best candidates for automation?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

When you are preparing for an exit or trying to scale operations, integrating AI is a highly effective leverage point, but you cannot let technology muddy your human accountability. You must use your weekly Level 10 Meeting and the IDS process as a structured filter to identify where automation will actually deliver the highest return.

Start by reviewing your weekly To-Do list and your issues list. Look for recurring operational bottlenecks that consistently drag down your team's capacity. These are often highly repetitive, manual tasks like data entry, scheduling, or basic reporting.

During the IDS segment of your meeting, run these bottlenecks through a simple evaluation process. First, assess the potential impact of automating the task using the 20/80 rule. Will automating this step free up significant mental and operational capacity for the seat owner, or are you just automating a minor convenience?

Second, define a clear purpose and scope for the automation project. Treat the AI application like a colleague by outlining exactly what tasks it will handle and where human oversight is required. Never automate a broken process; use the IDS tool to fully solve and standardize the workflow manually before you write any code or configure any software.

Once you agree to move forward, assign the automation project as a quarterly Rock to a single human leader on your Accountability Chart. That leader is fully accountable for the system's performance, accuracy, and ethical alignment. By keeping the human owner clearly defined, you can leverage AI to streamline your operations without losing control of your standards.