Now that the obvious is out of the way, you probably landed on this blog because you’re thinking that it’s time to start integrating AI. But where do you start? Which tools do you choose, and how do you get buy-in? 

We’ve been doing this for a while, so allow us to give you some first-hand advice on how to get started with AI and make it a success.

Clarify Your Goals

First things first, think about what you want to achieve with AI. 

Are you looking to automate repetitive tasks that drive you to distraction, improve customer service to make you stand out in the marketplace, or optimise your logistics to shave costs without sacrificing quality? 

Identifying specific goals will help you focus your efforts and ensure that the technology actually meets your needs. Don’t get drawn into doing something because it seems cool or because people online said it’s the best thing since sliced bread. AI is about making your life easier, so focus on the part that does just that. 

Break Down Data Silos

One of the biggest hurdles is often fragmented data spread across different departments. 

How are you meant to get a full picture of what's going on when you can only see part of the story? Before you do anything, start by auditing your data: figure out where it lives, how good it is, and how it moves through your team. 

Integrating your data correctly is crucial for building an AI system that gives you valuable insights. This leads us nicely to...

Focus on Quality Data

Worried about whether your data is up to scratch? Join the club. 

The output of any AI system is only as good as the data it’s fed. Take some time to clean and organise your data. It's better to have a smaller amount of high-quality data than lots of unreliable data. This will make your AI models more accurate and useful.

Our friends at Bundle have developed a tool that collects and cleanses your data, ensuring it’s ready for AI, all without manual intervention. We use it at assimil8, and it’s saved a load of time when prepping our clients for a data project. 

Think About Ethics

It’s exciting, right? The thought of AI flowing through your processes to streamline and automate time consuming and repetitive tasks. But before you get too carried away, you need to consider the ethical aspects of AI and what it means for your business. 

How does your AI make decisions? Is your data collection transparent and fair? Are you safeguarding customer privacy? Responsible AI isn't just a buzzword to stick on your website to make you sound professional; it's about building trust and doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. 

If you want to know more about the ethical side of AI, check out our recent series with IBM - all episodes available on our YouTube channel now. 

Start Small, Aim Big

It's tempting to go all-in on AI right away, but starting with a smaller, manageable project can be more effective (and easier on the budget!) 

Pick an area where AI can have a noticeable impact and test it out. This approach allows you to learn and adjust before scaling up, minimising risks and maximising benefits.

Budget Considerations

Worried about the cost? Who isn’t. None of us want to be the person spending big with nothing to show for it. 

Let’s not beat around the bush. AI projects can be pricey, but they don't have to blow your budget if you’re smart and think ahead.

Start with a clear budget and explore solutions that allow you to start small and scale up. Many AI platforms offer flexible pricing models that let you grow as you go.

For example, we’ve recently worked with a company who used the ChatGPT API in their process. The cost for each time they used ChatGPT was 47p. Doesn’t cost the earth, but soon adds up. Instead we introduced them to IBM’s model and the cost was significantly lower. We’re talking 4p. Suddenly, they impact of AI on the budget is much less, giving more breathing room for return on investment.

When we started assimil8, we made a conscious effort to be tech agnostic to ensure that we’re open to always finding the right fit for someone's budget and tech stack. While we like to partner with certain organisations, it should never be at the expense of delivering the right product or solution. 

Involve Everyone

AI isn't just for the IT department; it impacts everyone across your business so why wouldn’t you keep them in the loop and involved in the process? 

You’ll be surprised how receptive people are when they feel included. So, involve them early on in the process and make them feel like their opinions matter. This helps ensure that the AI solutions you implement are practical and beneficial for all departments, fostering a collaborative environment.

Keep Evolving

AI’s always evolving, and your strategy should too.

Regularly update your AI models, gather feedback, and make adjustments as needed. This continuous learning approach will not only keep you ahead of the competition, but it’ll also help you foster buy in across the business. As mentioned in the section above, the more people feel involved in a project, the more they are likely to champion its success. 

We suggest having regular update meetings with stakeholders and AI champions across the business to understand where it’s making life easier, and also where it’s causing unnecessary slowdowns or bottlenecks. Don’t be afraid to make changes to get the desired outcome. 

Let's Get Started with AI

The likelihood of your competitors using AI already is pretty high. So, what’s your excuse? We always suggest having a data discovery workshop to properly understand what you’re looking to achieve and how you aim to get there. 

They’re completely free, and no obligation, so there’s no risk to you or your business. If you want to book a session to learn how AI can improve your processes, and make you more efficient while saving some money along the way, give us a call or click the link below.