Try AI on your own work first.

Choose a task with a visible cost

A trial is easier to assess when it addresses a specific task. Finding information for customer replies or preparing the first draft of a recurring report are possible starting points.

Describe how the task is done today and what takes time. That gives you a basis for comparison. Otherwise, you risk buying a quick answer to a question nobody spends time on.

A successful trial needs a goal agreed in advance. That could be less total working time or fewer corrections. A well-written answer doesn't help if someone has to rewrite it.

The awkward cases belong in the trial

A hypothetical example: A company is considering an AI assistant that drafts customer replies. The trial includes routine questions and an enquiry where essential information is missing.

For the incomplete enquiry, a good result is for the assistant to request clarification or pass the task on. A confidently worded guess simply creates another job for customer service.

Employees who know the work should assess the answers. Only use customer data you are allowed to share with the supplier. Invented test cases need labels so nobody mistakes them for real ones.

• Can the employee use the result after a reasonable review?
• Does the solution recognise when information is missing?
• Can an incorrect result be corrected before it reaches the customer?
• Can work continue if the solution is unavailable?

Count the time spent checking

Drafting time is only part of the calculation. Preparation, review and corrections count too. If an employee has to investigate every answer from scratch, the saving may disappear.

The cost also includes ongoing fees and the time spent keeping the solution’s information up to date. Ask the supplier to explain what is included and what requires extra work.

The trial may point to a narrower use than planned. Perhaps the solution works well for drafts, while employees still need to select the information and approve the answer. You have then identified a specific task the solution can help with.

After the trial

Before entering an agreement, establish who handles errors, how changes are tested and how you stop using the solution.

If the trial demonstrates a benefit, you can start with the task and conditions you actually tested. Additional tasks need a fresh assessment. A good result in customer service says nothing about finance.

A focused trial suits companies with recurring tasks that are considering paying for AI. It gives you a basis for deciding whether the time saved is worth the cost and extra work.