The Biggest Mistake Businesses Make When Exploring AI & Automation
I've only been a member of this platform for a few days, but one thing has already jumped out at me.
I've received a surprising number of automated notifications informing me that someone has expressed an interest in AI & Automation.
To be clear, I understand how the platform works. A user selects AI & Automation as an area of interest, and professionals who offer those services receive a notification.
Nothing unusual there.
What has surprised me, however, is the sheer variety of people expressing that interest.I've seen everyone from health and wellness businesses to recruitment firms, creatives, consultants, retailers, logistics operators, and business owners from countless other sectors.
Clearly, AI has captured people's attention. And rightly so. However, if you're genuinely looking to explore AI and automation within your business, my advice is simple:
Don't start with the technology.
Start with the problem.
One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding AI is that it's a solution in its own right. It isn't.
AI is a tool. The real value comes from understanding exactly what you're trying to achieve before deciding which technology to use.
For example:
A recruitment business may want to reduce the time spent screening CVs.
A retailer may want to improve customer service response times.
A logistics company may want to eliminate manual data entry between systems.
A consultant may want to automate lead qualification and follow-up.
Each of these businesses has selected "AI & Automation" as an area of interest, but each requires a completely different solution. This is why I always encourage business owners to have a clear brief before approaching any AI project.
Ask yourself:
What process are we trying to improve?
What problem are we trying to solve?
How much time, money, or frustration is this issue currently costing us?
What would success actually look like?
Only once those questions have been answered does it make sense to start discussing software, platforms, workflows, or AI tools. In my experience, businesses that begin with the problem tend to achieve the best results. Businesses that begin with the technology often end up chasing shiny objects.
AI is undoubtedly one of the most exciting developments we've seen in business for many years. However, the businesses that will benefit most won't necessarily be those using the most AI. They'll be the ones using it with the clearest purpose.
For more than 30 years, I've been building businesses, solving problems, and finding better ways of doing things.
