Building useful AI automation starts with the workflow
Before choosing a model or tool, understand the work that actually needs to move.
Start with the work, not the model
The most useful automation begins with a concrete, repeatable piece of work. Before introducing AI, map the hand-offs, exceptions and decisions that make the process valuable.
Automation should make a reliable process easier to run — not hide an unclear one.
A practical starting point
- Identify the repeated task.
- Define the expected output.
- Decide where human judgement is still essential.
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| What triggers the work? | It determines where the workflow begins. |
| Who checks the result? | It makes quality and responsibility visible. |
const workflow = { trigger: 'new request', review: 'human', output: 'structured brief' };When the workflow is clear, the technology choices become much easier to evaluate.
