Author: David McMillian

Ask most business owners how they’re using AI, and the answer is usually: “We’re not, at least not yet.”

It’s not that they don’t believe in it. They’ve read the headlines, seen demos, and maybe experimented with a tool or two. The challenge is turning curiosity into a real strategy, which can feel complicated or abstract.

Here’s the good news: it doesn’t have to be.

From our experience meeting hundreds of companies each year, the most effective use of AI usually begins in two simple places: solving problems faster and gaining insight from your own data.

1. Solve Problems Faster

AI isn’t just for coders anymore. One of the biggest shifts we’re seeing is what I call “vibe-coding,” which is using AI to build or fix something based on your vision, not your programming skills.

A marketing director can describe a workflow problem in plain English and have AI generate a working solution. A controller can create a forecasting model without knowing Python. A project manager can automate a manual process by explaining it, not coding it.

This is the new language of problem-solving: your ideas are the code.

The fastest-growing companies aren’t just using AI to think for them; they’re using it to build for them. The entry barrier isn’t technical anymore; it’s creative.

2. Gain Insight from Your Own Data

The next major opportunity isn’t creating new data, it’s using the data you already have.

AI can analyze years of invoices, sales records, client notes, or project summaries to uncover patterns you’ve never had time to see. It can reveal which clients are most profitable, which projects regularly go off-track, or which service lines are growing fastest.

Many companies think “leveraging data” means selling it or using it externally. But the most valuable use is internal: turning knowledge into predictive power.

Imagine being able to tell a client not just what happened last quarter, but what’s likely to happen next. That’s a real competitive advantage, and it’s accessible to small and mid-sized businesses today.

Getting Started

If you’re unsure where to begin, start small. Pick one process that takes too long or one question you’ve never had time to answer. Then ask:

“Could AI help me solve this faster or understand it better?”

That single question can spark innovation.

The future of AI isn’t about replacing teams or automating everything. It’s about giving your business tools to think, learn, and adapt faster. You don’t need to be a programmer or Digital Architect; you just need a vision for how things could work better.

Ready to explore how AI can work for your business? Connect with David McMillian on LinkedIn or visit McMillian & Associates to start the conversation. Let’s set up a meeting here!