The Starting Point for AI Strategy: What’s Slowing Your Business Down?

Every business leader faces the same challenge: too much to do, and not enough time or resources. The question is this: what’s slowing your business down the most?

Why Bottlenecks Matter

For some organizations, it’s the manual, repetitive work that eats up hours of your team’s day. For others, it’s customer support queues, where employees spend more time answering the same questions than solving real problems. Sometimes it’s decision-making itself: too many reports, not enough clarity.

The First Step in AI Strategy

That’s why, when I help a client develop an AI strategy, I start with this question:

“What are the biggest challenges slowing you down right now?“

The answer reveals where AI can make the biggest impact. Notice that this step is all about the business, not the technology.

Common Areas Where AI Can Help

Here are some examples of how bottlenecks translate into opportunities for AI:

• Manual tasks: AI-powered workflows can automate repetitive processes, like document review or data entry, so employees focus on higher-value work.
• Customer questions: Conversational AI assistants can answer routine questions instantly, while routing complex issues to humans.
• Information overload: AI systems can quickly sift through large amounts of data to highlight the insights decision-makers need.

Why Start With the Problem, Not the Tool

Too often, companies begin with the technology – “We need ChatGPT” or “We should try this AI platform.” But AI strategy isn’t about shiny tools.

It’s about identifying bottlenecks and removing friction so your team can move faster, serve customers better, and focus on growth.

Your AI Journey Begins Here

When business leaders approach AI this way, the results are sustainable. They’re not chasing hype. They’re solving real problems.

So, what’s slowing your business down right now? That’s where your AI journey begins.