A CEO’s Guide to Implementing AI: From Concept to Execution

74% of agency leaders are investing, or planning to invest, in AI. But where should you start? Success with AI follows a natural progression - from crawl to walk to run. Here's how to take those first crucial steps.

1. Map Your Operational Landscape

Tools like Timely to can paint a detailed picture of how your team spends their time. Track your team's activities for two weeks to identify:

• Time-intensive processes

• Repetitive tasks

• Areas with frequent bottlenecks

• Customer service pain points

2. Identify Value-Draining Activities

Look for the intersection of high time investment and low value creation. Prime candidates include:

• Issuing certificates

• Reviewing contracts

• Repetitive data entry

• Basic policy queries

3. Leverage Team Insights

Your front line employees are your best resource for identifying AI opportunities. Ask targeted questions like:

• "Which tasks prevent you from spending more time with clients?"

• "What administrative work could be automated to improve your productivity?"

• "Where do you see the most processing delays?"

4. Execute Strategically

Start with a single, well-defined pilot project that:

• Has clear success metrics

• Affects a contained business area

• Can demonstrate quick wins

• Minimizes disruption to existing workflows

Define Key Performance Indicators

Select metrics that directly tie to business value:

• Time savings per task

• Error reduction rates

• Customer response times

• Policy processing speed & accuracy

• Employee satisfaction scores

• % increase in client-facing interactions

Implement Regular Reviews

Establish a rhythm of performance monitoring:

• Weekly: Track basic usage metrics

• Monthly: Review efficiency gains

• Quarterly: Assess ROI and adjust strategy

Taking Action Now

1. This Week: Schedule your workflow analysis

2. Next Week: Hold team meetings to gather insights

3. Within 30 Days: Select your pilot project and set baseline metrics

4. 90-Day Mark: Evaluate initial results and plan scaling

Remember: AI implementation isn't about replacing human talent—it's about elevating it. By following this structured approach, you'll be positioned to drive growth and efficiency.