What to Expect From an AI Strategy Audit
An AI audit should leave you with a prioritized, ROI-ranked plan — not a stack of buzzwords. Here is how a good one is structured and what you should walk away with.
"We know we should be doing something with AI" is the most common sentence I hear from executives. An AI strategy audit turns that vague sense of urgency into a concrete plan.
Phase 1: Understand the business
A good audit starts with how your company actually operates — not with technology. Expect interviews with leaders and front-line staff, walkthroughs of key processes, and a review of the systems and data you already have.
Phase 2: Identify opportunities
Next, each opportunity is evaluated against three questions:
- Value: how much time, cost, or revenue is at stake?
- Feasibility: do you have the data and systems to support it?
- Risk: what happens if it goes wrong, and how would you know?
Phase 3: Prioritize and plan
The deliverable is a ranked roadmap. Quick wins with low risk come first, building momentum and funding larger initiatives later. Each item includes an estimated effort, cost range, and expected return.
What you should walk away with
- A clear picture of where AI fits — and where it doesn't
- Three to five prioritized initiatives with ROI estimates
- A 90-day implementation plan your leadership team can approve
- Guidance on data security, policies, and vendor selection
A note on vendor neutrality
Ask whoever performs your audit how they are compensated. Recommendations should be based on your needs, not on referral fees or reseller margins. Independence is one of the most valuable things an outside advisor can offer.
Want to apply this in your business?
Talk it through with Paul on a free strategy call.