AI Readiness Check: Is Your Business Ready for AI?

"We need to do something with AI" – you hear this sentence in every boardroom. But the crucial question rarely follows: Are we even ready for it?

AI projects don't fail because of technology. They fail because of missing prerequisites. This AI Readiness Check shows you where your company stands – and what you need to do before investing in AI.

The 5 Dimensions of AI Readiness

Dimension 1: Data Maturity

No good data, no good AI. Period.

Data maturity checklist:

Evaluation:

• 0-3 points: Build data infrastructure first
• 4-6 points: Focused improvements needed
• 7-10 points: Ready for data-based AI

Quick wins for data maturity:

1. Conduct data inventory (where is what?)
2. Introduce master data management
3. Set up automatic data pipelines
4. Create data quality dashboards

Dimension 2: Technology Maturity

Not every IT landscape is AI-ready.

Technology maturity checklist:

Evaluation:

• 0-3 points: Prioritize technology modernization
• 4-6 points: Targeted upgrades before AI projects
• 7-10 points: Technically ready for AI

Quick wins for technology maturity:

1. Develop cloud strategy
2. Create APIs for core systems
3. Introduce DevOps practices
4. Conduct security audit

Dimension 3: Organizational Maturity

AI needs more than technology – it needs the right organization.

Organizational maturity checklist:

Evaluation:

• 0-3 points: Culture work before technology projects
• 4-6 points: Develop culture and technology in parallel
• 7-10 points: Organizationally ready for AI

Quick wins for organizational maturity:

1. Establish cross-functional teams
2. Provide innovation budget
3. Promote fail-fast pilots
4. Transparent communication

Dimension 4: Competency Maturity

Who is supposed to operate the AI anyway?

Competency maturity checklist:

Evaluation:

• 0-3 points: Start upskilling program
• 4-6 points: Targeted training
• 7-10 points: Competence available

Quick wins for competency maturity:

1. AI basics training for all
2. Data literacy program
3. AI champions in departments
4. Learning-by-doing in pilots

Dimension 5: Strategy Maturity

Without a plan, AI becomes an expensive experiment.

Strategy maturity checklist:

Evaluation:

• 0-3 points: Develop strategy before implementation
• 4-6 points: Sharpen strategy
• 7-10 points: Strategically ready for AI

Quick wins for strategy maturity:

1. Conduct use case workshop
2. Business case per use case
3. Establish AI governance framework
4. Roadmap with milestones

Your Total Score

Add your points from all dimensions:

Typical Gaps and How to Close Them

Gap: Data Chaos

Symptoms:

• Nobody knows what data exists
• Every department has its own Excel lists
• Data quality is "felt okay"

Solution:

1. Data inventory (2-4 weeks)
2. Introduce data governance
3. Build centralized data storage
4. Define quality KPIs

Timeframe: 3-6 months for basics

Gap: Technology Debt

Symptoms:

• Legacy systems without APIs
• Everything on-premise
• "The system is 15 years old"

Solution:

1. Modernization roadmap
2. API layer over legacy systems
3. Step-by-step cloud migration
4. Middleware for integration

Timeframe: 6-18 months

Gap: Organizational Resistance

Symptoms:

• "That doesn't work for us"
• Fear of job loss
• Passive resistance to change

Solution:

1. Transparent communication (AI complements, doesn't replace)
2. Early involvement in pilots
3. Share success stories
4. Set up professional change management

Timeframe: Continuous

More on this: Human-Centered AI explains the psychological aspects.

Gap: Missing Skills

Symptoms:

• "We don't have anyone who can do this"
• IT is already overloaded
• Data science is a foreign word

Solution:

1. Start upskilling program
2. Bring in external expertise
3. AI literacy for all employees
4. Champions in departments

Timeframe: 3-12 months

The Most Common Readiness Assessment Mistakes

Mistake 1: Overestimation

Problem: "Our data is good" – without having verified it.

Solution: Objective assessments by externals, sample audits.

Mistake 2: Technology Focus

Problem: "We have cloud, so we're ready"

Solution: Evaluate all 5 dimensions equally.

Mistake 3: Top-Down Without Basis

Problem: Management says "ready", departments see chaos.

Solution: Bottom-up assessment, employee surveys.

Mistake 4: One-Time Assessment

Problem: Readiness check 2 years ago, not updated since.

Solution: Annual re-evaluation, before every major project.

Your Action Plan

If your score < 20:

Phase 1: Basics (Month 1-6)

• Data inventory and cleanup
• Develop cloud strategy
• Prepare change management
• Conduct basic training

Phase 2: Foundation (Month 7-12)

• Build data infrastructure
• Create first APIs
• Continue culture work
• Teach AI basics

Phase 3: First Steps (Month 13-18)

• Small pilot with external support
• Document learnings
• Continue developing organization

If your score is 20-35:

Phase 1: Close Gaps (Month 1-3)

• Identify most critical gaps
• Implement targeted measures
• Prioritize use cases

Phase 2: Pilot (Month 4-6)

• One focused use case
• With external partner
• Change management in parallel

Phase 3: Scaling (Month 7-12)

• Apply learnings
• Additional use cases
• Build internal know-how

If your score > 35:

Phase 1: Strategy (Month 1)

• Use case prioritization
• Create roadmap
• Allocate resources

Phase 2: Implementation (Month 2-6)

• Multiple parallel pilots possible
• Decide build vs. buy
• Establish governance

Phase 3: Scaling (Month 7+)

• Roll out successful pilots
• Build AI competence center
• Continuous improvement

Conclusion

AI readiness isn't a binary state. It's a spectrum – and most companies start somewhere in the middle.

The key: Honestly assess where you stand. Then systematically improve. Those who create the prerequisites before investing in AI will be among the 30% whose projects succeed.

Want to professionally determine your AI Readiness Score? Our AI Adoption Audit analyzes all 5 dimensions in detail and delivers a concrete action plan – in 2-3 weeks you'll know exactly how to start.