Editor's Synopsis
Julian Harris shares a reflection on the quote "Automation is the last step, not the first," calling it profoundly relevant to why companies are slow to embrace AI. He highlights that the process begins with understanding how things are done today — a phase so critical that consultants dedicate entire discovery phases to it, which alone can be costly and time-consuming.
The post underscores a key insight for organizations pursuing AI adoption: before automating any workflow, companies must first thoroughly map and comprehend their existing processes. This sequential approach — understand first, automate later — is presented as a fundamental reason why enterprise AI transformation takes longer than many expect.