Your 2027 AI plan: a 90-day checklist
Start the year with one AI tool that works, not five that you never set up.
Days 1 to 30: choose and set the rules
- List the jobs that take the most time each week. Pick one.
- Write a one-page AI policy: which tools, what customer information can go in, who approves what. Start from our AI policy template.
- Check the basics on privacy: the Privacy Act 2020 and AI.
- Set a monthly budget: how to budget for AI.
Days 31 to 60: run one tool
- Choose a tool built for that job. Phone calls: an AI receptionist. Quotes and follow-ups: AI employees.
- Give it your facts: prices, hours, areas, the way you write.
- Keep approvals on. Read what it does every day for the first two weeks.
- Correct it when it’s wrong. Good tools learn from corrections.
Days 61 to 90: measure and decide
| Job | Measure |
|---|---|
| Phone calls | Calls answered, jobs booked, after-hours enquiries |
| Quotes | Quotes sent, time per quote, quotes won |
| Invoices | Days to get paid, reminders sent |
| Marketing | Posts published, enquiries from the website |
If it saved time or won work, keep it and pick the next job. If not, change the set-up or drop it.
Where NOVA fits
Ora answers your phone and is free to set up and practise. JENA gives you AI employees for quotes, invoices, follow-ups and marketing, with a 7-day free trial. For a big money decision, Gnomon plays it out before you commit.
Questions
How should a small business start with AI?
Pick one time-consuming job, set simple rules, run one tool on it with approvals on for 30 days, then measure and decide.
Do I need an AI policy?
Yes, even a one-page one: which tools, what information can go in, and who approves what.
How long before AI pays off?
Measure for 60 days. Phone answering and invoice reminders often show results quickly; marketing takes longer.
Give the busywork to an AI team.
Pick a role, connect your apps and approve the first job. Free for 7 days, no card.