Everywhere I turn, someone is talking about their “AI strategy.” But here’s the truth: you don’t need an AI strategy. You need a business strategy, and AI should support it.
Too many organizations start with technology. They chase tools, trends, and buzzwords before they’ve clearly defined the problems they’re trying to solve. That’s backward.
Here’s how we believe you should think about AI:
Start With the Problem, Not the Tool
Don’t start by asking, “What can AI do for us?” Start by asking, “What problems are we trying to solve?” Every Thursday morning at 9am, there is an open meeting that anyone from the Matrix Group staff can attend. At first, we focused on AI learning, but we have shifted to talking about:
- Where are the inefficiencies in our operations?
- What repetitive tasks eat up staff time?
- Where are members, customers, or employees frustrated by friction in their experience?
- What tools or processes need re-engineering?
Then, we solve!
I highly recommend holding regular meetings like this, where you discuss pain points, inefficiencies and missed opportunities. Once you’ve identified the pain points, prioritize them. Make a list of the top five challenges you need to address this year. Then, and only then, start exploring how to optimize and automate.
AI Might Be the Solution—or It Might Not
AI is powerful, but it’s not magic. Sometimes the solution involves AI. But sometimes the solution is a better database search, a better process for collecting data, better processes, new integrations, or clearer communication.
Be open and curious about what’s possible with AI, but stay grounded in your goals. The right question isn’t, “How can we use AI?” It’s, “How can we work smarter, faster, and better?”
And don’t forget to ask your vendors what they’re doing with AI. Many are already building AI into their systems — CRMs, AMSs, CMSs, and marketing tools — so you may already have AI capabilities available to you that solve some of your pain points.
Successful AI Adoption Is More Than Tools
Even if AI is part of the solution, success depends on people and process just as much as, if not more than, the technology at play. Successful AI adoption requires:
- Executive buy-in. Leaders need to be curious about AI, understand what it can do, and use it themselves.
- Process ownership. Who owns innovation in your organization? Who will manage these projects and ensure they actually move forward?
- Ongoing support. AI isn’t “set it and forget it.” You’ll need to maintain, refine, and evolve your solutions over time.
In my experience, it takes at least six months for a new initiative or process to stick. If you lose focus after just a few months, you’ll be amazed by how quickly your organization drifts back to the old way of doing things. Keep following up, stay curious, and insist on ongoing tweaks and adjustments to the execution plan.
The Bottom Line
AI is an incredible tool, but it’s not a strategy. Your business strategy needs to come first.
When you start with your goals, your pain points, and your priorities, you’ll identify the right opportunities to automate, streamline, and enhance what you already do best.
And when AI supports that strategy rather than driving it, you’ll see real results.