Let’s talk about AI strategy for small businesses.
AI tools have exploded both in popularity and potential over the past few years, and we’re at the edge of yet another major release of new AI models that are incredibly powerful. If you haven’t already considered strategizing around AI, now is the time to start doing it.
If your business has started experimenting with AI tools, you’re in good company. The overwhelming majority of organizations have adopted some form of AI by now. But…most of those organizations are seeing little to no real financial return from it.
Take it from someone who’s seen it. You have employees on your team using these incredible tools like they’re glorified search engines. This is an opportunity knocking on the door.
It’s time to get serious about your company’s AI strategy so your employees can actually deliver more value.
AI Strategy for Small Businesses – How to Get Started
First of all, if you have employees like the ones I described above, you’ve crossed the starting line. You have a team that is curious enough and resourceful enough to go out on their own and try their hand at a new technology.
Now, you need to harness that curiosity by giving it some direction. Here’s how.
☐ Step 1: Find Out What Your Team Is Already Doing
Just ask them. You might be surprised how many people on your team are already using AI tools on their own. Find out what they’re using, what they’re using it for, and what’s actually helping them. That conversation alone will show you where the real opportunities are in your business.
☐ Step 2: Pick One Problem to Solve First
Don’t try to overhaul everything at once. Think about one task in your business that eats up time every week but doesn’t really need a human to do it from scratch. Things like drafting emails, summarizing notes, creating reports, or answering common customer questions.
Start there. One win will build more confidence than ten half-finished experiments.
☐ Step 3: Set a Few Ground Rules
Before your team starts using AI more broadly, take 30 minutes to answer these three questions together:
What information are we okay putting into an AI tool and what should stay out?
Who checks the work before it goes to a customer?
Which tools are we actually going to use?
That’s it. You don’t need a formal policy. You just need everyone on the same page so nothing falls through the cracks.
☐ Step 4: Teach Your Team to Use It Better
Most people use AI like a search engine. Type a quick question, get a quick answer, move on. But AI tools are capable of so much more when you give them clear instructions.
Spend an hour with your team showing them how to be more specific with their requests. The more context you give the tool, the better the output. This one small shift will change how your whole team experiences AI.
Here are two great resources to share with your team:
OpenAI’s Prompt Engineering guide
Anthropic’s prompting documentation
☐ Step 5: Check In and Keep It Simple
Set a reminder once a quarter to ask: is this actually helping us? If yes, look for the next place to apply it. If not, try a different approach. AI is moving fast, and staying curious is the only strategy you really need to keep up.
You’re Closer Than You Think
Building an AI strategy doesn’t have to be complicated. For most small businesses, it starts with one conversation, one problem, and one tool used well.
If you’re not sure where to begin, that’s exactly what we’re here for. Give ShaferTech a call and we’ll help you figure out the right starting point for your business. No tech jargon, no overwhelming roadmap. Just a practical next step.
Click here to contact us if you’d like to have a conversation.