guides·July 29, 2026·6 min read
The AI readiness checklist for SMEs
Seven checks that tell you whether your company is ready to run its first AI project — and what to fix first.
Start with readiness, not tools
Most failed AI projects in small and mid-sized companies do not fail because the model was wrong. They fail because the process around the model was never ready.
1. A named business owner Every AI initiative needs someone who owns the business outcome, not just the technology.
2. A process worth automating Pick a process that is repetitive, high volume and rule-based enough to describe in one page.
3. Data you can actually reach If the data lives only in a colleague's inbox, the project is a data project first.
4. A measurable baseline Record handling time, error rate and cost per case before you start. Without a baseline there is no ROI.
5. Clear guardrails Decide up front what the system may decide alone and what always needs a human.
6. A pilot budget with an end date Six to ten weeks, one process, one team. Extend only on evidence.
7. Someone to run it after go-live AI in production needs an owner, monitoring and a feedback loop.
Score yourself with the free evolvAI AI Readiness Assessment to see where the gaps are.