Implementing AI in your business can be daunting. The rapid evolution of this technology is leaving a lot of firms trying to understand where to start. Furthermore, those tasked with leading these initiatives are overloaded with information flooding our inboxes and media.
Like the adoption of any new technology or change initiative in an organisation, it’s best to start small: Experiment with a core group of evangelists, identify their successes and then begin to scale that capability.
To help plan how this might play out in your organisation, we have created a 6-month guide of the steps you can take to initiate your AI journey.
Planning to implement AI in your business?
We’ve published an AI Innovation Investment Guide with costed benchmarks for companies starting or expanding their AI & hyper automation capabilities.
Month 1: Assess and plan
- Evaluate current processes: Identify repetitive tasks or business processes that could bring efficiency gains through automation.
- Set clear goals: Define what you aim to achieve with AI automation, such as increased efficiency, reduced errors, or improved customer service. Establishing these expectations upfront will help you measure outcomes and make it easier to gain exec buy in when you’re presenting the business case to expand your initiatives.
- Engage stakeholders: Involve key stakeholders to ensure alignment and gather input on potential areas for automation. A good litmus test about whether to include particular stakeholders is to determine if they’re involved with, impacted by, or can influence the project.
Month 2: Research and select tools
- Understand the technology capabilities: If you already use Microsoft in your business, then Copilot is likely to be the best fit. A qualified partner can help you familiarise yourself with the features and benefits of Microsoft Copilot.
- Choose the right tools: Select the Copilot tools that best fit your business needs, such as Copilot for Microsoft 365 or Copilot studio, which allows you to extend and customise agents for specific tasks.
Month 3: Develop and test
- Create a pilot project: Start with a small, manageable project to test Copilot’s capabilities, identify the use case, and how you will measure success.
- Develop automation workflows: Work with your partner to build a Copilot PoC that will automate the identified processes.
- Test thoroughly: Ensure the automation works as expected and make necessary adjustments.
Month 4: Train and implement
- Manage change: Ensure adequate training sessions are provided for the pilot users so they understand how the business process will change. Provide them with the tools to provide regular feedback.
- Implement automation: Roll out the automation workflows in a controlled environment, ensure access is controlled and managed effectively.
- Monitor performance: Track the performance of the automated processes and gather feedback from users.
- Ensure compliance: Verify that the automation complies with relevant regulations and standards, with a particular focus on data access.
Month 5: Review and improve
- Review outcomes: Assess the impact of the automation on your business goals.
- Identify improvements: Look for areas where further improvements can be made for the target processes, ensuring that you capture insights from stakeholders that are involved with or impacted by the automation.
- Plan for the future: Develop a long-term plan for monitoring the ongoing performance of the automation in the business area, as well as what other opportunities this process has uncovered for AI automation within your business.
Month 6: Optimise and scale
- Optimise workflows: Refine the automation workflows based on feedback and performance data.
- Expand automation: Gradually scale the automation to additional users and other departments or expand the automation to additional processes.
Partnering for success
Working with a trusted partner like Empyrean IT from day one can significantly enhance your success rate. Our expertise in AI solutions ensures you navigate the complexities of AI implementation smoothly and achieve better outcomes. By leveraging our knowledge and experience, you can maximise the benefits of AI automation and stay ahead of the competition – especially when technology is moving so quickly.
Next month I will take a deep dive into the Microsoft Copilot maturity model to discuss how this can help organisations adopt AI as part of their longer-term technology and business strategy.
