In my role at OWOW, I spend a lot of time speaking with CEOs, CTOs, and operations leaders who want to implement AI but aren’t sure where to start. Many have been pitched automation tools that promise to revolutionize their workflows, but the gap between theory and execution is massive.

That’s why we built the AI Automation Sprint—a structured way to turn AI from an abstract idea into a practical, high-impact tool. It’s a two-week process designed to identify real inefficiencies, pinpoint automation opportunities, and create a clear execution plan. The goal isn’t just to introduce AI but to make sure it actually delivers measurable results.

The challenge: from AI to ROI

The starting point wasn’t theory—it was real-world experience. OWOW has worked with traditional industries for years, helping companies modernize their software and operations. We’ve seen firsthand how legacy systems, manual workflows, and disconnected tools create bottlenecks. Instead of guessing where AI could help, we went back to our existing clients, analyzed their processes, and looked for small, high-impact areas where AI could actually improve efficiency.

This is where most AI implementations go wrong. Companies try to automate too much at once, expecting AI to replace entire workflows. But large language models aren’t built for broad, undefined processes. When AI lacks constraints, it drifts, hallucinates, and creates new inefficiencies instead of solving them.

The biggest insight that shaped our sprint was this: focus on small, specific tasks within existing workflows. Rather than trying to automate an entire supply chain, we look at a single step—such as converting email orders into an ERP system. Instead of overhauling customer service, we automate a single repetitive task where AI can reliably add value. Precision beats scale.

The process: how we run the sprint

The AI Automation Sprint is designed to be fast, strategic, and immediately actionable. It begins by fully understanding the business. We work closely with leadership and key stakeholders to map out how the company operates today. By talking to different departments, we can spot the manual processes that slow things down and identify where AI could be useful.

Once we’ve mapped the existing workflows, we focus on finding the most repetitive, high-impact tasks that AI can automate. At the same time, we assess data readiness—because AI is only as good as the data it works with. Many companies think they need AI when, in reality, they first need better systems to manage their data.

From there, we build a clear, phased automation roadmap. This isn’t a vague list of ideas—it’s a structured, step-by-step execution plan. We validate it with company leadership, ensuring that everything aligns with their actual needs and priorities.

By the end of the sprint, businesses don’t just walk away with insights. They leave with a concrete plan that’s ready to be executed.

The lesson: cutting through the hype

One of the biggest challenges in designing this sprint was filtering out the AI hype. Many companies assume AI is a magic fix for everything, but in reality, most businesses need to modernize their core systems before AI can be useful. In many cases, the first step isn’t AI—it’s fixing broken workflows and freeing up data.

A turning point for us was realizing that the most successful AI applications aren’t broad—they’re highly focused. The moment we stopped trying to automate entire workflows and instead looked at well-defined use cases, everything clicked.

For example, in logistics and supply chain companies, one of the biggest bottlenecks is processing large volumes of emails and manually entering data into systems. AI is perfect for automating that specific task, allowing human workers to focus on more valuable work. When we ask operations leaders, “What if we could automate 80% of this and leave you with only the 20% that requires human oversight?”, the response is immediate. The realization that they could free up that much time is a game-changer.

The OWOW way: hybrid high-performance culture

What makes this work at OWOW is the culture behind it. We’re not just AI consultants—we’re a high-performance team of strategists, designers, and developers who actually build digital products. That means we don’t just point out inefficiencies—we create real solutions that work in practice, not just on paper.

Being surrounded by a team with diverse expertise has been a huge advantage. Having developers, automation specialists, UX designers, and strategic thinkers working together means we move fast and bring automation ideas to life without getting stuck in endless discussions. Our solutions aren’t just technically functional—they’re practical, usable, and designed to integrate smoothly into real business operations.

AI isn’t just something we offer to clients—we integrate it into our own workflows. I use AI every day to streamline research, summarize meetings, and optimize my own work. With back-to-back client calls, I rely on AI-powered note-taking to extract action points instantly, reducing my preparation time for future meetings. The result is more meaningful conversations and less time spent on admin work.

The impact: what the AI automation sprint delivers

The value of AI isn’t in replacing human work—it’s in removing friction from everyday operations. The AI Automation Sprint is designed to help businesses move faster, reduce costs, and unlock new opportunities without massive restructuring.

For companies in logistics and supply chain, this means freeing up internal capacity. Many of the businesses we work with are running at full stretch, unable to take on new clients without hiring more people or expanding operations. The right AI-driven automation allows them to do more with the same resources, improving efficiency without increasing headcount.

For companies with heavy administrative workloads, the sprint helps eliminate manual, repetitive tasks that slow teams down. AI can handle data processing, extract key information from emails, and integrate with internal systems, allowing employees to focus on high-value work instead of being buried in admin tasks.

In many cases, automation also solves hiring challenges. Recruiting the right talent—especially in operational roles—has become increasingly difficult. By optimizing processes with AI, companies can reduce their dependency on hard-to-fill positions, making their teams more efficient without relying on constant hiring cycles.

Perhaps the biggest impact is in decision-making. AI-powered automation doesn’t just improve efficiency—it improves the quality of insights leaders have about their business. By integrating AI into core workflows, companies gain faster, more accurate reporting, better forecasting, and more reliable data-driven strategies. This leads to smarter business decisions, reduced risks, and long-term growth.Not every conversation leads to a sprint or a product. Sometimes, it’s simply about helping leaders see their business from a different angle. We share what we’ve seen work elsewhere, offer a fresh perspective on their challenges, and bring clarity to topics that often feel overwhelming. These moments—where we help someone see a smarter way forward—can be just as valuable as the tools we build.

For most of our clients, AI isn’t just a cost-saver—it’s a competitive advantage.

If you want to hear more about what I’ve built and how I’ve built it, reach out to me: tom.h@owow.io