AI readiness starts before the tool
Ahmed Siyad ·
Most AI projects that fail were decided before anyone opened a tool. Readiness comes in five parts: data, people, process, policy and a pilot.
1. Data: your AI is only as good as your data
Before any tool, answer three questions honestly.
- Do you know where your data lives?
- Is it clean, current and consistent?
- Who can access it, and should they?
2. People: train people before you buy tools
Adoption fails when staff are handed software without understanding.
- Basic AI awareness for everyone
- Hands on practice for each team
- One champion in every department
3. Process: automate a process you understand
If you cannot draw the process on paper, AI cannot improve it.
- Map the steps as they really run
- Find the repetitive, rule based parts
- Start there, not with judgement calls
4. Policy: write the rules before the first prompt
A one page AI policy prevents most of the problems we see.
- What data may go into AI tools
- Who reviews AI output before it is used
- How mistakes are reported and fixed
5. Pilot: start with one workflow and measure it
Small, measured pilots beat big launches.
- Pick one repetitive task
- Record how long it takes today
- Run for 30 days and compare
Five questions before you buy an AI tool
- What problem are we solving?
- Is our data ready for it?
- Who will use it every day?
- What are the rules for its use?
- How will we know it worked?
Five yes answers? You are ready to pilot.