It's hard reading while you're preparing for a meeting.
Or driving a truck.
Or feeding the kids.
But you CAN listen.
And today's article is a long-form episode of AI Today - our regular podcast.
It's on YouTube - and you can also subscribe to AI Today on Apple Podcasts.
Congrats. You've created a business that's been around a while.
That's huge. You've got the grey hair and wrinkles to prove you've gone into battle - and won.
Not many people have the tenacity and guts to do what you've done.
And you deserve to be recognised for that effort.
You deserve to feel like the business is starting to run itself.
But our fast-changing, ever-evolving world has other ideas.
It needs more of your time.Â
The good news is, the next project you take on should be the one that finally wrestles back that much-deserved time.
So you can finally enjoy the hard-won rewards of being an entrepreneur.
It starts with data, and ends with success.
Long-term, predictable, reassuring success.
Because now we have all the tools we need to ensure it.
We're talking AI integration.
Few business leaders know where to begin.
It's about getting your house in order. Recognising you're sitting on a mountain of data. And now, finally, doing something about it.
Once you've got your data warehouse in place, everything about your business changes.
Improved customer experience.
Increased operational efficiency.
Enhanced decision-making.
Employee empowerment, growth - and retention.
There's a 7-step process to completing this project.
And you can start small. Show its value. And with that momentum, build a data-driven organisation that's ready for any challenge and opportunity.
Here's how it works:
Data audit and inventory. Take stock of your existing data landscape to understand what you're working with. Conduct a comprehensive audit of all internal data sources. Document data types, formats, ownership, and accessibility. Identify a couple of potential 'quick win' projects.
Data governance and security. Put clear data governance policies in place to ensure data quality and compliance. Implement robust security measures to protect sensitive data. This early investment reduces errors and boosts trust with customers and partners.
Data integration. Connect your data, scattered across different systems and departments, to unlock the true power of AI. Create a central nervous system for your business to allow information to flow freely and efficiently. Make sure these connections are robust enough to keep up with the speed of business.
Identify AI use cases. Focus on particular use cases that align with your business goals. Develop AI that solves real problems and delivers tangible value. Partner with experienced AI professionals to identify the right use cases and technologies. Maybe talk to me.
Start small - and build momentum Use the 2-2-2 framework: two weeks of planning, two data sources, and two clear business outcomes. Choose a 'lighthouse project' with clear business value that can be completed quickly with minimal resources. This approach minimises risk and maximises early wins.
Embrace change management. Get everyone on board by introducing AI as a job enhancer, not a job killer. Create a culture of transparency, collaboration, and continuous learning.
Continuous improvement. Create a culture where learning, adapting and enhancing your AI systems is key. User feedback should drive enhancements to your AI models and data integration processes. Strong leadership is essential to model the behaviours you want to see.
Any business can win, here. No matter how limited your resources - you can achieve significant results with a clear vision, commitment, and consistent execution.
There's a huge return on investment (ROI) associated with this project. Not only in terms of money - but also, time.
You earned this. Now let's get your business on autopilot so you can enjoy all the benefits of this organisational private jet.
When you're ready to explore this 7-step system to a data-driven business - drop me a line.