Field guide
Choose one workflow before one AI tool
A purchase starts with repeated work, not a product demo.
Name the job
Write one sentence that begins: Every week, we spend time on. Use a task with a visible input, owner, output, and review step.
Good pilots are narrow enough to measure. Drafting a first reply is measurable. Improve customer service with AI is not.
Record the baseline
Count how often the job happens, how long it takes, who reviews it, and what a mistake costs. Use a normal four-week period when possible.
Do not buy from a promised percentage. Compare the pilot against your own baseline.
Choose the smallest test
Use fictional or low-risk information first. Keep a person responsible for every output. Define the stop condition before the first test.