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AI Readiness Scorecard
A five-minute self-assessment for owners weighing whether AI fits their operation right now.
How to use this: Score each of the five questions honestly. Add up the points. The result tells you where to focus before you spend a dollar on AI tools or a consultant.
Most businesses that struggle with AI adoption did not fail because they picked the wrong tool. They started before they were ready — before the workflows were documented, before anyone owned the project, before there was a problem worth solving.
This scorecard takes five minutes. It tells you whether you are ready to move, ready to prep, or better off waiting.
The five questions
Score each 1, 2, or 3 using the descriptions below. Write your scores in the table at the bottom.
1. Do you have a documented workflow?
AI works on processes that are written down — inputs, steps, outputs, exceptions. If the process exists only in someone's head, there is nothing to automate yet.
The process is informal. We do it differently depending on who's running it that day.
We have a rough process. Most people follow it most of the time, but it's not written down.
The process is documented. A new hire could follow it with minimal guidance.
2. Do you have clean, consistent data?
AI outputs are only as good as what goes in. Messy spreadsheets, inconsistent naming, missing fields — these don't get fixed by adding AI. They get amplified.
Data is scattered — different formats, multiple sources, no consistent structure.
Data lives in one or two places but has gaps or inconsistencies we'd need to fix.
Data is clean, consistently formatted, and lives in a system we control.
3. Is there someone on your team who can own this?
AI projects without an internal owner stall. Not an engineer — someone who understands the workflow, will flag when outputs are wrong, and has time to invest in the first 30 days.
It would land on me (the owner) and I'm already at capacity.
There's a possible owner but they'd need to de-prioritize other work to do it well.
There's a clear owner with bandwidth. They're already motivated to solve this problem.
4. Is this problem causing real pain today?
The best automation projects are solving problems that hurt. Curiosity-driven AI projects rarely ship. "We should probably automate this someday" is not urgency.
It's inefficient, but we're managing fine. No one's complaining.
It slows us down noticeably. We talk about fixing it but it's not urgent yet.
This is a genuine constraint on growth or quality. It's costing us time or money every week.
5. Do you have budget for a pilot?
A pilot does not have to be expensive. But it costs something — a tool subscription, a few hours of outside help, or staff time to set things up and learn. "Free" pilots almost never ship.
No budget allocated. Would need approval from multiple people to spend anything.
Could get a few hundred dollars approved for a tool trial. Larger spend would require a business case.
Budget exists for a proper pilot — tools, setup help, and staff time to run it.
Your score
| Question | Score (1–3) |
|---|---|
| 1. Documented workflow | |
| 2. Clean, consistent data | |
| 3. Someone who can own it | |
| 4. Real pain today | |
| 5. Budget for a pilot | |
| Total (out of 15) |
5–8 points
Not yet
The foundation isn't there. Spend the next 60 days documenting one process and cleaning one data source. Come back when that's done.
9–12 points
Ready to pilot
You can start. Pick the one workflow where you scored highest and run a small pilot. Keep it scoped — one process, 30 days, one owner.
13–15 points
Move fast
You are as ready as most businesses get. The delay is costing you. Pick a project and start this month.
One thing to fix first
If you scored low on one question in particular, that is usually the right place to start. Fix that first before adding tools.
Low on Q1 (documentation)
Shadow the person who runs the workflow for a day. Write down every step. That document is worth more than any tool.
Low on Q2 (data quality)
Pick one data source. Spend one afternoon cleaning it. AI can help with this — it is often the first practical AI project.
Low on Q3 (ownership)
The owner does not need to be technical. They need to care about the problem. Find that person before you start.
Low on Q4 (urgency)
Find a different workflow. The one with the most pain is always the right first project. This one can wait.
Want a second opinion on your score?
Bring your scorecard to a free 30-minute evaluation. We will tell you what to fix first and what is ready to build.