Jul 1, 2025

In boardrooms and break rooms alike, the conversation is shifting. It's no longer “Should we use AI?” but “How fast can we implement it before we fall behind?” Artificial intelligence (AI) is moving at lightning speed, transforming everything from customer service to legal review, logistics to lead generation. For business owners, the question isn't whether AI will change your industry. It already has. The real question is: Are you ready to change with it? The family-run firm I work with has been delivering professional staffing solutions for over 40 years. We've weathered economic downturns, navigated policy shifts and helped hundreds of clients scale their operations. But nothing, and I mean nothing, has impacted our internal workflows like AI. That's why we're building a platform that automates time-consuming bid and request for proposal (RFP) submissions. What used to take us days of repetitive work should soon take minutes, with fewer errors and more strategic output. And we're not alone. Just look around: • Morgan Stanley is using OpenAI's technology to arm their financial advisors with instant access to research and data, cutting hours of digging down to seconds of intelligent search. • Netflix uses AI to predict which thumbnails you'll click on, increasing engagement and retention. • Walmart is deploying AI in supply chain management, anticipating stock issues before they even happen. These aren't “tech companies.” They're smart companies that understand AI is the new electricity. It's not about replacing people. It's about removing friction, optimizing systems and letting humans do what we do best at work: solve, sell and scale. Yet I still meet founders who think AI is too complex, too cold or too risky to touch. The truth? Not adapting is the risk. Many of the most promising companies today aren't inventing brand-new ideas. They're simply rethinking how old ideas are executed using new tools. Consider legal tech startup Harvey AI, now adopted by firms like Allen & Overy , where approximately 3,500 lawyers use AI-summarized briefs in place of traditional contract reviews that could take the industry average of eight to 12 hours or more. This shift dramatically reduces review time without compromising compliance. Jasper AI, meanwhile, supports thousands of users , including small businesses, by generating website copy, emails and social media content that would have cost thousands to outsource through traditional marketing channels. The pace of AI is dizzying, yes, but that's exactly why you can't afford to sit still. Our team could've waited, watched others test the waters and hoped not to sink. But hope isn't a strategy. Speed is. So, whether you run a staffing firm, a restaurant, a law office or a logistics empire, ask yourself: • Which of my processes still rely on manual, repetitive steps? • What tools are available right now that could save me time or money? • Am I teaching my team to fear AI or to use it? At my firm, we're choosing to use it. Our AI project isn't just a shiny tech experiment. It's a business necessity, one that we hope will give us a competitive edge while improving service to our clients. So, how can you get started without a technical team or a huge financial budget? Step 1: Start with your pain points. Before shopping for AI tools, ask yourself: What slows me down the most? Is it writing emails? Scheduling meetings? Following up on unpaid invoices? Sorting through résumés? Once you isolate repetitive tasks, you can identify where AI can create leverage. A solo real estate agent might automate their listing descriptions. A financial planner could use AI to summarize complex market news into digestible insights for clients. A staffing firm (like mine) might automate form-filling, compliance audits or candidate outreach. Step 2: Use no-code AI tools. You don't need a developer to benefit from AI. Many platforms offer powerful no-code options that plug directly into your existing workflows. Want to build a customer support chatbot? There are also tools that make that possible without writing a single line of code. Need help cleaning spreadsheets or pulling insights from data? Certain AI tools can assist right inside your familiar software. Step 3: Test in one area, then scale. Don't try to overhaul your entire business overnight. Choose one area—say marketing, operations or admin—and run a small AI pilot. Measure the time saved. Track error reduction. Note client feedback. Then, expand slowly. Bring your team into the process, and let them see how AI helps, not replaces them. Change happens faster when people feel empowered, not threatened. Step 4: Reimagine your business model. The biggest gains come when you stop thinking of AI as just a tool and start thinking of it as a co-founder. If AI can reduce labor costs, can you serve more clients at lower prices? If AI can automate 80% of a service, can you now offer it on subscription? AI isn't just an efficiency play. It's a business model shift. It can allow businesses not just to save time but to change how they deliver value to clients. For my firm, what we once saw as a cost center (compliance paperwork) is now becoming a productized solution. Step 5: Stay curious, not comfortable. The AI landscape evolves weekly. New tools, plug-ins and capabilities emerge constantly. Set aside time monthly or even weekly to explore what's new. Attend virtual demos. Join the founder's Slack groups. Watch AI startup launches. Because while others sit back, waiting for the dust to settle, the forward-thinkers are already iterating on version 3.0. The future isn't slowing down. It's accelerating. If you're reading this wondering whether your company is moving fast enough, you're already behind, but it's not too late. You can catch up. You can reinvent. In the end, AI won't replace you. But a business using AI might. The companies that win in this next era won't be the biggest or oldest. They'll be the ones that learn fast, test boldly and adapt early. Just don't wait. Because in this era, the cost of inaction isn't just inefficiency, it's irrelevance. The information provided here is not investment, tax or financial advice. You should consult with a licensed professional for advice concerning your specific situation. Forbes Finance Council is an invitation-only organization for executives in successful accounting, financial planning and wealth management firms. Do I qualify?