At GBA, we’re always looking for ways to bring practical, forward-thinking insights to our clients and community. We recently sat down with Ken Tucker, Digital Transformation Consultant at Connaught Ealing Solutions, to explore how business owners can move beyond the hype and start using AI in a way that actually drives results.
Here’s what he had to say.
Ken Tucker:
Most businesses are only using a small fraction of what AI can actually do, probably around 5%.
Right now, it’s often being used as an enhanced search tool: summarizing documents, drafting emails, or generating content. That’s helpful, but it’s just the surface.
The bigger opportunity is using AI to support how you think and operate. That includes things like scenario analysis, workflow design, extracting insights from messy data, and even challenging your assumptions. When businesses start using AI in those ways, that’s when you see real impact.
Ken Tucker:
AI shouldn’t be treated as a standalone initiative, it needs to be part of your overall business strategy.
The starting point is always your business goals. Are you trying to grow? Improve efficiency? Increase profitability?
Once you’re clear on that, your digital strategy supports those goals, and AI becomes one component within that. The mistake I see is companies jumping into AI because it’s trending, instead of focusing on where it can actually create value for their business.
Ken Tucker:
The first thing I look at is their business objectives, what they’re actually trying to achieve.
From there, I assess their current systems, processes, and data. Where are the bottlenecks? Where is time being spent manually? Where are there gaps in visibility?
A lot of companies don’t have a formalized business plan, but they have a general sense of where they want to go. My role is to help connect those goals with practical opportunities where digital tools, and AI specifically, can support them.
It’s not about starting with the technology. It’s about understanding the business first.
Ken Tucker:
It depends on the complexity of what they’re trying to achieve.
For many businesses, especially in the early stages, they can absolutely get started internally. There’s a lot you can do with tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, or Gemini without needing a technical background.
But as you move into more advanced use cases, like workflow automation, system integration, or building out more structured processes, it often makes sense to bring in external support.
Most companies don’t have in-house developers or IT teams, so having a partner who understands both the technology and the business context can help accelerate progress and avoid costly missteps.
Ken Tucker:
Start with education and hands-on use.
Learn how to use an LLM effectively and apply it to your day-to-day work. Some quick wins I see often include:
These are low-risk, high-impact applications that don’t require a big investment.
Ken Tucker:
The more transformative work tends to involve integrating AI into how the business actually runs.
That could include automating end-to-end workflows, improving financial processes like accounts payable, using predictive analysis, or embedding AI into ERP systems.
Those initiatives require more planning and structure, but they can significantly change how a business operates and scales.
Ken Tucker:
It’s still early, but the ROI is already clear in areas like time savings, efficiency, and faster decision-making.
For a lot of businesses, even small improvements, reducing manual work or speeding up processes, can have a meaningful impact on profitability.
Ken Tucker:
Start small and stay practical.
You don’t need to have everything figured out. Begin by experimenting with the tools, asking questions, and applying them to real problems in your business.
You can even use AI to teach you AI, build a learning plan, create exercises, and develop your understanding over time. The key is to start and build momentum.
Ken Tucker:
AI is a powerful tool, but it’s still just a tool.
The businesses that will benefit the most are the ones that approach it strategically, align it with their goals, and take the time to learn how to use it effectively.
You don’t need to do everything at once, but you do need to start.
AI is quickly becoming a practical tool for businesses, not just to improve efficiency, but to make better, more informed decisions. As this technology continues to evolve, the real opportunity lies in how thoughtfully it’s applied within your business strategy.
Whether you’re just starting to explore AI or looking to take your current approach further, having the right guidance can make all the difference.
To learn more, visit https://www.connaughtealing.com/
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