Still unsure which business tasks to automate with AI? Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started.

AI automation can save you and your team hundreds of hours – but only if you know the right tasks to begin with. Not everything should be automated; some tasks still need the human touch.

Did you know? Amazon recently released a case study showing that their approach to coding with AI saved 4,500 developer-YEARS (not a typo, 4500 years!).

We don’t all have the resources of Amazon. That’s why I created the COMPLETE™ framework – a simpler way for teams and individuals to approach AI automation. I’ve taught this approach to my consulting clients and in my more advanced AI training workshops as a way to prioritise tasks, reduce errors, and maximise efficiency in workflows.

The COMPLETE™ Framework: Your Guide to Smart AI Automation

COMPLETE™ breaks down tasks into 8 factors to help you decide:

• ➡️ Complexity: How difficult is it to automate?
• ➡️ Occurrence: How often do you perform this task?
• ➡️ Monetary investment: What does it cost in time or money?
• ➡️ Priority: Does it require a human touch for client satisfaction?
• ➡️ Likability: Is it a task you or your team enjoy?
• ➡️ Error reduction: Can AI do it more accurately than a person?
• ➡️ Time savings: How much time would AI save you?
• ➡️ Efficiency: Will automation make your team more efficient?

Applying COMPLETE™ to Your Business

To apply the framework:

1. List tasks you want to automate
2. Score each task (1-5) across all 8 factors
3. Prioritise tasks with the highest scores
4. Build an automation plan
5. Track your progress and adjust

Why COMPLETE™ is Crucial for Every Business

Without a clear strategy, you risk automating the wrong tasks. This framework helps you focus on what will save time, reduce errors, and improve overall job satisfaction. It ensures you maintain a Human First approach, freeing up your team to focus on work that truly needs a human touch.

Your Roadmap to AI Automation Success

1. Discovery (1-2 months): Identify potential tasks to automate (do this at a role level or project level)
2. Pilot Projects (2-4 weeks): Test automation on key tasks
3. Proof of Concept (1-3 months): Validate that automation works for those tasks
4. Scaling (3-6 months): Roll out automation to more areas
5. Continuous Improvement: Keep refining your approach as AI evolves

Final Thoughts

AI can boost productivity, but only with the right strategy. Start by listing your top 5 time-consuming tasks and score them using COMPLETE™. What are your favourite tasks to automate? Share your highest-scoring task in the comments on this LinkedIn post – I’d love to chat with you about this!

If you found this helpful, please share it with your network. Automating the right tasks can transform your business – COMPLETE™ is here to make that process easier for you. Schedule a call with Alastair if you’d like some help with this.