UNDERSTANDING AI by Adi Klevit Getting the most value from AI for your business Artificial intelligence is everywhere right now. Business owners are hearing about it constantly, exploring new tools, and trying to figure out how AI fits into their companies. Some are excited. Others are uncertain where to begin. Most are trying to determine how to make smart decisions without wasting time, money, or energy chasing the latest trend. Recently, I spoke with the owner of a law practice who shared something that perfectly captured what many business leaders are experiencing. When I asked her why she was interested in process documentation, she said, “I am looking to ultimately automate some of my systems with AI and realized we need clear systems in place before we do that. I also know we need more consistency.” That conversation stood out to me because it reflects a growing realization among business owners. In many cases, the companies getting the most value from AI are not necessarily the ones implementing the most tools. They are the ones that have enough operational clarity to understand how work is currently happening inside their businesses and where AI can create meaningful impact. One of the biggest challenges I am seeing is that many companies are trying to jump into AI without first identifying their priorities, bottlenecks, and opportunities. As a result, they become overwhelmed by possibilities and struggle to move forward in a meaningful way. I recently worked with a business owner who created a long list of AI initiatives he wanted to implement. The list included nearly twenty different ideas. But after the initial excitement wore off, the projects stalled because the company had not identified which opportunities would create the greatest return on investment or which workflows were causing the biggest inefficiencies. Once we stepped back and mapped the company’s workflows at a high level, everything became clearer. The bottlenecks became visible. Repetitive tasks stood out. The team could evaluate where automation would make the greatest impact. Instead of trying to tackle twenty initiatives at once, they focused on one area, implemented it successfully, and created momentum from there. That is where I believe many businesses begin seeing traction with AI. AI is an incredibly powerful tool, but businesses still benefit from operational visibility when deciding what to automate and where AI can create the greatest value. If leaders do not have a clear understanding of how work flows through the organization, it becomes much harder to prioritize initiatives effectively. This does not mean companies need to document every single process in extreme detail before using AI. That idea can feel overwhelming and unrealistic, especially for growing businesses. In fact, many AI tools can help businesses document, organize, and refine workflows more efficiently. Experimentation and innovation absolutely have their place. However, businesses still need enough visibility into their workflows to understand where delays, inconsistencies, communication gaps, and repetitive manual tasks exist. Without that visibility, many companies risk investing in tools before identifying the real problem they are trying to solve. I also think many entrepreneurs mistakenly believe they need to automate everything at once. In reality, the businesses seeing the greatest success with AI are often taking a more intentional approach. They are asking practical questions such as: ■ Where are our biggest bottlenecks? ■ Which repetitive tasks consume the most time? ■ Where are mistakes or inconsistencies occurring? ■ Which improvements would create the greatest operational impact? ■ What initiative would give us the clearest win first? Those questions lead to better decisions because they connect AI implementation to actual business needs rather than pressure or hype. Another important factor is the human side of implementation. When workflows are unclear or inconsistent, introducing AI can sometimes create confusion instead of efficiency. Employees may not fully understand the process being automated, which can lead to duplicated work, frustration, or resistance to change. On the other hand, when teams already have clarity around how work should happen, AI becomes much easier to integrate into daily operations. At its core, this conversation is not just about technology. It is about creating clarity inside the business. The good news is that business owners do not need to have everything figured out before getting started. They simply need a structured approach. Start by mapping out how work currently flows through the organization. Identify where delays, frustrations, and repetitive tasks exist. Evaluate which improvements would create the greatest return on investment. Then choose one initiative and focus on implementing it successfully before expanding further. The businesses getting the most value from AI are not necessarily moving the fastest. They are moving intentionally. ADI KLEVIT is the founder and CEO of Business Success Consulting Group, a firm that helps growing companies create operational clarity through systems and process documentation and implementation. For nearly 30 years, she has worked with business owners to improve consistency, streamline operations, and build companies that can scale more effectively. Adi is an international speaker, author, consultant, and host of the System Simplified podcast, where she shares practical strategies for creating more organized and sustainable businesses. She is a member of the Enterprising Women Advisory Board and was a 2026 recipient of the Enterprising Women of the Year Award. enterprising Women 37
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