What does the AI Readiness Score actually measure?

The score measures eight factors across six dimensions: operations (manual work, process documentation), data systems (integration, tooling), lead management (response speed), customer support (ticket repetition), content and marketing (AI tool adoption), and leadership buy-in. Each dimension contributes equally to your overall score.

How is the score calculated?

Each question has four answer options worth 1-4 points. Your raw score is the sum of points across all eight questions, normalised to a 0-100 scale. A perfect score of 100 means every answer reflects a fully AI-ready operation. The score maps to one of four tiers: AI-Ready (75+), Getting There (50-74), Early Stage (25-49), and Starting Out (0-24).

How long does it take to improve an AI readiness score?

The fastest-moving dimensions are lead management and content tooling — these can shift in 2-4 weeks with the right AI tools deployed. Data integration improvements typically take 4-8 weeks. Process documentation takes 1-3 months depending on team size. Leadership alignment varies most — it's often the biggest single factor in how fast an organisation actually moves.

Can a low-scoring business still benefit from AI?

Yes. A lower readiness score means starting with more contained automations rather than end-to-end transformations. Lead follow-up, FAQ responses, and invoice processing can be automated even in businesses with minimal existing tooling. The score helps you pick the right starting point — not decide whether to start.

What happens after I see my score?

Your score maps to a specific tier with tailored recommendations. The category breakdown shows which dimensions are your biggest gaps. The next step is typically a 30-minute strategy call where we review your specific score, discuss the 2-3 highest-impact interventions, and outline a realistic timeline based on your situation.

How do I know if my business is ready for AI?

A business is ready for AI when it has at least one repeatable process running more than 10 hours per week, some form of digital record-keeping, and leadership willing to commit 4–6 weeks to implementation. You do not need a dedicated IT team or a large budget. The most common starting points — lead follow-up automation, support ticket triage, and invoice processing — can be live in under 3 weeks with current tooling.

What is the ROI of AI for small business?

Most small businesses see 200–400% ROI in the first year of AI automation, with payback periods of 3–6 months. The clearest gains come from eliminating manual data entry (85% automatable), automating lead follow-up (recovers 15–30% of lost deals), and deflecting 40–60% of support tickets. A 10-person team spending 20% of their time on manual tasks typically recovers $60,000–$90,000 in annual capacity.

How much does it cost to implement AI in a small business?

Basic AI automation for a small business typically costs $3,000–$10,000 for implementation plus $200–$600 per month in tooling. Simple single-process automations (lead follow-up, appointment scheduling) start at $3,000. Multi-step workflow automations run $5,000–$10,000. Most projects recover their full implementation cost within 4 months of going live.

AI Readiness Score

8 questions. A score out of 100. A category breakdown showing exactly where your business is ready for AI and where the gaps are.

An AI Readiness Score is a structured assessment that measures how prepared a business is to implement and benefit from artificial intelligence across operations, data systems, and team structure. Scores range from 0–100 across six dimensions, with 75+ indicating readiness for end-to-end AI deployment.

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Operations

How much of your team's weekly work is manual, repetitive tasks (data entry, copy-paste, form filling)?

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