AI Workflow Checklist
Use these 15 questions to decide whether a workflow is actually ready for AI, or whether you should clean up the process first.
How to use it
- 1. Pick one workflow that feels repetitive, slow, or error-prone.
- 2. Move through the 15 questions below and count your yes answers.
- 3. If the score is strong, map the workflow in more detail or book a fit call.
Want the deeper worksheet?
The workflow audit template adds mapping, scoring, and ROI estimation so you can rank your best automation candidates.
Get the Workflow Audit TemplateFifteen questions before you automate anything
A good automation target is repetitive, well understood, measurable, and worth fixing. If a workflow fails those tests, AI will not rescue it.
Workflow fit
- ?Does this workflow happen at least once a week?
- ?Is there a clear trigger that starts the work?
- ?Are most of the steps rules-based rather than judgment-heavy?
- ?Do the inputs already live in digital systems your team uses today?
- ?Does the process involve repeated copy/paste, rekeying, or handoffs?
Systems and data
- ?Can one person explain the current process from start to finish?
- ?Do you have a few recent examples of good inputs and good outputs?
- ?Are the systems involved stable enough that the process is not changing every week?
- ?Can mistakes be spotted quickly without a long forensic review?
- ?Would the team keep working in the same tools if automation lived inside them?
Readiness and ROI
- ?Does the work consume at least 2 hours a week across the team?
- ?Are delays or errors customer-visible, revenue-impacting, or operationally painful?
- ?Would partial automation still create value, even if the workflow is not fully hands-off?
- ?Is there an internal owner who can approve changes and support rollout?
- ?Can you name one success metric in under 30 seconds?
What your yes count means
This is not a certification. It is a fast pressure test to keep you from automating a messy process too early.
12-15 yes
Strong candidate
You likely have a workflow that is ready for a scoped pilot or Discovery Sprint.
8-11 yes
Needs prep
There is real potential, but the process or data probably needs cleanup before automation sticks.
0-7 yes
Fix the process first
Document the workflow, tighten ownership, and remove ambiguity before you automate.
Want a second set of eyes on your score?
Bring one workflow to a 20-minute fit call. Michael will tell you whether it looks ready for a pilot, needs process cleanup, or is not worth automating yet.