Why This Matters
Before you invest in AI deployment, you need to know where you stand. Not every organisation is ready for AI — and deploying too early wastes money, erodes trust, and makes it harder to try again later.
This scorecard is the same assessment framework we use during Phase 1 of our 90-day deployment process. Score yourself honestly. The results will tell you whether you're ready to deploy, what you need to fix first, or whether you should wait.
How to Score
Rate each criterion from 1 (Not at all) to 5 (Fully in place). Be honest — inflated scores lead to failed deployments.
Dimension 1: Data Infrastructure
| Criterion | Score (1–5) |
|---|---|
| Core business data is digitised and stored in structured databases (not spreadsheets) | |
| Data is updated regularly (daily or real-time) and reflects current operations | |
| APIs or data export mechanisms exist for key systems (CRM, ERP, ticketing) | |
| Historical data covers at least 12 months of operations | |
| Data quality is monitored — duplicates, missing fields, and stale records are addressed |
Dimension 2: Process Maturity
| Criterion | Score (1–5) |
|---|---|
| Core business processes are documented and standardised | |
| Decision criteria for key processes are explicit (not tribal knowledge) | |
| Exception handling has defined escalation paths | |
| Process bottlenecks are identified and measured | |
| There are clear KPIs for the processes you want to automate |
Dimension 3: Team Capability
| Criterion | Score (1–5) |
|---|---|
| At least one team member can serve as the internal AI project owner | |
| Operations staff are comfortable with digital tools and can provide feedback | |
| IT/engineering team can support API integrations and system monitoring | |
| Team is open to changing established workflows | |
| Training and change management resources are available |
Dimension 4: Leadership Alignment
| Criterion | Score (1–5) |
|---|---|
| An executive sponsor actively champions the AI initiative | |
| Leadership understands that AI deployment is an operations project, not just a tech project | |
| There is organisational patience for a 90-day deployment timeline | |
| Success metrics are agreed upon at the leadership level | |
| Leadership is prepared to invest in change management alongside technology |
Dimension 5: Budget Readiness
| Criterion | Score (1–5) |
|---|---|
| Budget is allocated for both initial deployment and ongoing operation (not just a one-time project) | |
| ROI expectations are realistic — not expecting 10x returns in month one | |
| Budget covers integration costs with existing systems | |
| There is budget for training and knowledge transfer | |
| Contingency budget exists for unexpected integration challenges |
Score Interpretation
Your Total Score
100–125 (Ready to Deploy): Your organisation has the infrastructure, processes, people, and leadership alignment for successful AI deployment. You're ready for Phase 1 of our 90-day process.
75–99 (Nearly Ready): You have strong foundations with 1–2 gaps that need addressing. A focused 30-day preparation phase can close these gaps before deployment begins.
50–74 (Foundation Building Needed): Significant gaps exist in data, process, or organisational readiness. Deploying AI now would likely fail. Invest 60–90 days in foundation work first.
25–49 (Not Yet Ready): Core infrastructure and organisational capabilities need development before AI deployment is viable. Focus on digitisation, process documentation, and leadership education.
What Comes Next
If you scored 75 or above, you're in a strong position to deploy. Book a discovery call and we'll walk through your scores together, identify the highest-impact deployment opportunities, and outline a concrete plan.
If you scored below 75, that's not a failure — it's useful information. We work with pre-deployment organisations to close readiness gaps before investing in AI systems. The worst outcome isn't a low score — it's deploying before you're ready and burning budget on a system that can't succeed.
Book a discovery call to get your organisation scored by our team and receive a personalised readiness roadmap.