Choose a specific need
A request to add AI is often too broad. Turn it into an observable task: helping draft replies, summarizing documents, or organizing incoming requests.
Choose one workflow first. Document the current process, its users, and the steps that take the most time. This helps determine whether AI is a suitable tool for the job.
Identify the data you need
Map out which information the system may use and where it comes from. Irrelevant or outdated data can make results difficult to trust.
Limit access to what is needed. Before connecting an external service, review the data being sent and its storage settings. Use non-sensitive sample data for an initial prototype.
Test with realistic examples
Prepare sample inputs and criteria for acceptable results. Do not judge a response only by how fluent it sounds. Check whether it agrees with its sources, meets the need, and is easy for a user to review.
Include incomplete or ambiguous examples. Decide how the application should ask for clarification, explain its limitations, or hand the task to a person when the output is not ready to use.
Introduce AI gradually
Start with a workflow that lets users review results before an action takes place. A draft that can be checked is easier to evaluate than a process that immediately changes large amounts of data.
Record user feedback and the time spent correcting results. Use these findings to decide whether the integration needs refinement, expansion, or simplification.
