Most Businesses Waste Money on AI

Here’s How to Avoid It

Welcome to The Logical Box!

Your guide to making AI work for you.

Hey there,

Andrew here from The Logical Box, where I break down AI so it’s easy to understand and even easier to use.

A lot of businesses rush into AI without a plan. They hear about automation, jump into a few tools, and then realize:

  • They don’t have the right people to manage it.

  • Employees don’t know how to use it properly.

  • The tool they picked doesn’t integrate with their workflow.

That is why resource planning for AI is critical.

AI is not just another software subscription. It needs the right people, training, and tools to actually work for your business.

Let’s talk about how to budget for AI the right way, without overspending or wasting time.

1. Start with a Business Problem, Not a Tool

Before you even think about AI, define the problem you want to solve.

Ask yourself:

  • What manual tasks are slowing my team down?

  • Where do errors or bottlenecks happen the most?

  • What part of my workflow could be more efficient with automation?

Once you identify a real business need, then you can plan for AI that solves it.

Example: If your sales team spends hours following up with leads manually, an AI-powered email automation tool could save time.

2. Staffing: Who Will Own AI in Your Business?

You don’t need to hire an AI expert within your company. But you do need someone who can oversee AI adoption.

Most businesses make one of two mistakes:

  1. They ignore AI adoption, leaving employees to figure it out on their own (which leads to frustration).

  2. They think they need a technical AI expert, when what they actually need is someone who understands their business and how to integrate AI into it.

Here’s what to do instead:

  • Assign an "AI Champion" - Someone already on your team who is curious about AI and willing to test and integrate new tools.

  • Give them a small, clear AI task - Like automating data entry or setting up an AI chatbot for customer FAQs.

  • Make AI adoption part of their role - Not an afterthought.

Example: Instead of hiring an AI consultant, assign a marketing team member to test AI tools for content generation and reporting.

This way, you save money while keeping AI implementation practical and business-focused.

3. Training: Don’t Let AI Become Another Unused Tool

The biggest AI mistake businesses make? Skipping training.

AI tools are designed to be simple, but that doesn’t mean employees will know how to use them right away.

Here’s how to train your team without overwhelming them:

  • Pick one AI tool at a time: Don’t introduce five at once. Start with something simple, like AI-powered meeting summaries or content writing.

  • Run a hands-on demo: Show how the tool works in a real business scenario.

  • Create a "How-To" playbook: A simple document with step-by-step instructions for using AI in daily tasks.

Example: If you introduce ChatGPT for customer service replies, create a list of sample prompts so employees don’t have to figure it out themselves.

A well-trained team gets value from AI faster, without confusion or frustration.

4. Budgeting for AI Tools: Start Small, Scale Smart

AI does not have to be expensive. Many businesses overspend on AI tools they don’t need.

Here’s how to budget smartly for AI:

  1. Set a testing budget: Start with free or low-cost plans to see what actually works before committing to paid subscriptions.

  2. Prioritize AI tools that integrate with what you already use: This avoids expensive system changes.

  3. Track ROI: Measure time saved or improved efficiency before expanding AI use.

Example: Instead of investing in a full AI-driven CRM, test an AI email assistant first to see if automation helps before upgrading.

5. AI Tools You Can Start Using Today (No Coding Required)

Ready to try AI but don’t know where to start?

Here are a few out-of-the-box AI tools that require no coding and are easy to integrate:

  • For Emails & Writing – Grammarly AI, Jasper, Copy.ai

  • For Meeting Notes & Summaries – Otter.ai, Fireflies.ai

  • For Automating Repetitive Tasks – Zapier, Make

  • For Customer Support & FAQs – Drift, ChatGPT-powered chatbots

  • For AI-Powered Research & Insights – Perplexity AI, ChatGPT

Pro Tip: Pick one tool, test it for 30 days, and see if it actually improves your workflow.

Your Next Steps: Build Your AI Resource Plan

Before jumping into AI, take 15 minutes today to outline a simple plan:

  1. Pick one business problem AI could solve for you.

  2. Assign an AI Champion to explore potential tools.

  3. Choose one AI tool to test in the next 30 days.

  4. Create a basic training plan for your team (even if it’s just a simple guide).

  5. Set a budget for AI testing, start with free or low-cost plans before committing to expensive software.

Want feedback on your AI plan? 

Connect with me on LinkedIn, and I’ll help you refine it.

Thanks for reading,

Andrew Keener
Founder of Keen Alliance & Your Guide at The Logical Box

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