How to start with AI on a small budget

“AI needs data we don’t have.”  “AI requires a dedicated team that we don’t have.”  “AI is out of budget.”  “We don’t know where to start.”  “We don’t have the right tools.”    This is what I often hear when speaking with business leaders, mostly from mid-sized organizations.   I get it. The pressure is real—innovate faster, cut costs, do more with less.    But here’s what I’m seeing every day: If you’re already on Microsoft 365, Azure, or Power BI, you’ve got more of the foundation than you think.    The tools are accessible, the path is clearer than it looks, and you don’t need a massive budget; you need a clear problem and a small, smart start.    When customers ask to “get started” with AI, we walk them through our ImpactNOW solution.   It helps identify where AI will have the most impact and singles out a specific use case so its investment can be proven in weeks, not months.     That’s the key: focus on one small project to get rolling. From there, you can add more use cases and clearly see the value AI delivers across your business.   I wrote more on this topic here: https://lnkd.in/g_nF3nf3   Learn more about ImpactNOW: https://lnkd.in/g5XfaQUR  ProArch Microsoft Lakshman Kaveti Ben Wilcox Chris Vogel Jim Spignardo 🌥️✨Gregory Dodge Luke Bixby Michael W.