Essential Things You Must Know on Enterprise Automation

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AI Roadmap Workbook for Non-Technical Business Leaders

A clear, hype-free workbook showing where AI can actually help your business — and where it won’t.
Dev Guys Team — Smart thinking. Simple execution. Fast delivery.

The Need for This Workbook

In today’s business world, leaders are often told they must have an AI strategy. AI discussions are happening everywhere—from vendors to competitors. But business heads often struggle between two bad decisions:
• Accepting every proposal and hoping it works out.
• Declining AI entirely because of confusion or doubt.

This workbook offers a balanced third option: a calm, realistic way to identify where AI truly fits in your business — and where it doesn’t.

You don’t need to understand AI models or algorithms — just your workflows, data, and decisions. AI is simply a tool built on top of those foundations.

Best Way to Apply This Workbook

You can complete this alone or with your management team. The aim isn’t to finish quickly but to think clearly. By the end, you’ll have:
• Clear AI ideas that truly affect your P&L.
• A visible list of areas where AI won’t help — and that’s acceptable.
• A structured sequence of projects instead of random pilots.

Think of it as a guide, not a form. Your AI plan should be simple enough to explain in one meeting.

AI planning is business thinking without the jargon.

Starting Point: Business Objectives

Focus on Goals Before Tools

Too often, leaders ask about tools instead of outcomes — that’s the wrong start. Non-technical leaders should start from business outcomes instead.

Ask:
• Which few outcomes will define success this year?
• Where are teams overworked or error-prone?
• Where do poor data or slow insights hold back progress?

It should improve something tangible — speed, accuracy, or cost. If an idea doesn’t tie to these, it’s not a roadmap — it’s just an experiment.

Skipping this step leads to wasted tools; doing it right builds power.

Step Two — Map the Workflows

Visualise the Process, Not the Platform

AI fits only once you understand the real workflow. Simply document every step from beginning to end.

Examples include:
• New lead arrives ? assigned ? nurtured ? quoted ? revised ? finalised.
• Customer issue logged ? categorised ? responded ? closed.
• Invoice generated ? sent ? reminded ? paid.

Every process involves what comes in, what’s done, and what moves forward. AI belongs where the data is chaotic, the task is repetitive, and the result is measurable.

Step 3 — Prioritise

Score AI Use Cases by Impact, Effort, and Risk

Choose high-value, low-effort cases first.

Think of a 2x2: impact on the vertical, effort on the horizontal.
• Quick Wins — high impact, low effort.
• Strategic Bets — high impact, high effort.
• Optional improvements with minimal value.
• High cost, low reward — skip them.

Add risk as a filter: where can AI act safely, and where must humans approve?.

Your roadmap starts with safe, effective wins.

Foundations & Humans

Get the Basics Right First

AI projects fail more from poor data than bad models. Ask yourself: Is the data 70–80% complete? Are processes well defined?.

Keep Humans in Control

Let AI assist, not replace, your team. Over time, increase automation responsibly.

The 3 Classic Mistakes

Avoid the Three AI Traps for Non-Tech Leaders

01. The Shiny Demo Trap — getting impressed by flashy demos with no purpose.
02. The Pilot Problem — learning without impact.
03. The Full Automation Fantasy — imagining instant department replacement.

Choose disciplined execution over hype.

Collaborating with Tech Teams

Frame problems, don’t build algorithms. State outcomes clearly — e.g., “reduce response time 40%”. Share messy data and edge cases so tech partners understand reality. Agree on success definitions and rollout phases.

Request real-world results, not sales pitches.

Evaluating AI Health

How to Know Your AI Strategy Works

It’s simple, measurable, and owned.
Buzzword-free alignment is visible.
Ownership and clarity drive results.

Essential Pre-Launch AI Questions

Before any project, confirm:
• What measurable result does it support?
• Is the process clearly documented in steps?
• Do we have data and process clarity?
• Where will humans remain in control?
• How will success be measured in 90 days?
• What’s the fallback insight?

The Calm Side of AI

Good AI brings Dhaval Shah order, not confusion. Focus on leverage, not hype. True AI integration supports your business invisibly.

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