How to Get Started with AI? – A Practical Guide for Businesses That Want to Start Smart

AI is on everyone’s lips – but where do you actually start? Should you build a chatbot, analyze your data, or just buy a ready-made solution?

The answer is: it depends on what you want to achieve. But no matter where you are, there are proven steps to help you succeed.

Step 1: Start with the Problem – Not the Tech

Many AI projects fail because they start with the technology instead of the need. We always start by asking:

What business problem are we solving – and why is AI the right tool?

It could be:

• Freeing up time in customer service
• Getting better decision support
• Predicting production downtime

When the goal is clear, it’s much easier to choose the right path forward.

Step 2: Review Your Data – What Do You Have to Build On?

AI needs data. Not necessarily lots of it, but relevant and useful data.

Take stock of:

• What data sources do you already have?
• How is data stored and accessed?
• Do you have the right structure and quality?

We often help clients conduct an initial AI assessment to map out data maturity and potential.

Step 3: Identify a First Use Case

Start small – but think big. A good first AI use case:

• Has clear business value
• Is technically feasible
• Can show results quickly

We often suggest a Proof of Concept (PoC) or a prototype to test the idea on a small scale.

Step 4: Build, Train, Test

Now comes the fun (and nerdy) part: the actual AI development. This involves:

• Choosing the right algorithms
• Training the model on your data
• Evaluating results and fine-tuning

We always work agile in small iterations – so you quickly see if the solution works.

Step 5: Scale – or Learn and Iterate

When the PoC delivers results, you can take the next step:

• Integrate the AI solution into your operations
• Scale to more users or areas
• Train your team to work with AI daily

Didn’t get the results you hoped for? No problem. You’ve still learned a lot – and can adjust course.

Need a Hand Along the Way?

At Softhouse, we support companies at every stage of the AI journey:

• Strategy and AI roadmap
• Prototypes and PoCs
• Full-scale projects
• AI training and skills development

👉 Read more about our offering here
Or get in touch and we’ll bounce some ideas – no strings attached.

👉 Learn more about AI by downloading our “AI in 5 Minutes” – a quick guide to help you understand the potential, opportunities, and way forward.

We code the future – one AI step at a time.