Readiness checklist

Find one AI workflow worth piloting safely.

Use this checklist to score whether a professional services workflow is narrow enough to control, valuable enough to matter, and measurable enough for a 90-day private AI pilot.

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Quick fit score

Score the workflow before you automate it.

Score each item 0 for no or unknown, 1 for partial, and 2 for yes. You are looking for a workflow with clear boundaries, repeatable inputs, and a human reviewer who can approve the output.

  1. 01

    A repetitive workflow costs staff time every week.

  2. 02

    The workflow touches client financial, tax, payroll, HR, or business data.

  3. 03

    Public AI tools would create privacy, trust, or review concerns.

  4. 04

    The workflow follows a recurring process, checklist, template, or SOP.

  5. 05

    Source documents, emails, tasks, or reports are available in approved systems.

  6. 06

    A named human reviewer can approve AI-assisted output.

  7. 07

    An owner, partner, manager, or lead will sponsor the pilot.

  8. 08

    Success can be measured in 90 days.

Good first pilots

Start where the work is recurring and reviewable.

Client document intakeClassify items, flag what is missing, and draft follow-up for approval.
Internal SOP assistantHelp staff find approved procedures, checklists, and templates.
Month-end or CAS status briefSummarize blockers, open items, and next actions for managers.
Payroll cycle trackingTrack approvals, missing inputs, recurring exceptions, and reminders.
Weekly owner briefGive leadership a reviewed snapshot of workflow bottlenecks and risks.
Green lights

Move forward when...

  • The workflow repeats often enough to justify setup.
  • Inputs live in approved systems with clear access rules.
  • A person owns review, exceptions, and final approval.
  • Success can be measured within the pilot window.
Red flags

Pause when...

  • The firm expects AI to make final tax, accounting, payroll, legal, or compliance judgments.
  • There is no internal reviewer or process owner.
  • The workflow depends on unsupervised client communication.
  • Approved data sources or privacy boundaries are unclear.

Want to turn this into a controlled pilot?

Firmdesk runs 90-day private AI workflow pilots for professional services firms. The goal is one narrow workflow, approved data boundaries, human review, and measurable operating value.

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