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A smarter way to bring AI into your business

Discover how experts recommend businesses start using AI— from choosing the right tools to building skills and boosting efficiency without overwhelming your workflow.

By Stephanie Nuzzo

  • AI is becoming essential for business efficiency, helping owners save time, reduce admin and modernise operations—without needing to overhaul everything at once.
  • Experts recommend starting small and choosing tools that fit your workflow, while staying mindful of privacy and building your AI skills gradually.
  • Clear intentions lead to better results, with AI freeing up hours each month so you can focus on strategic work, customer engagement and growth.

If you’re a business owner who’s sitting on the fence about leaning into AI, allow these experts to help. The age of AI is here and businesses are quickly learning how to use smart tools to save time, reduce stress and boost efficiency. If you’re wondering whether now is the time to press “go” on your own business AI journey, these expert tips will help you take those first steps with confidence.

What businesses are learning from adopting AI

Ryan Zahrai, founder of Zed Law, was an early adopter of AI, approaching the tech with enthusiasm. While he sees his business’ use of AI as a hugely positive thing, there were a few learnings along the way. Here are three of his biggest takeaways from his AI journey:

Know your why: “Our AI race was initially driven by FOMO – but we should have clearly defined our outcomes and why we were adopting AI in the first place.”

Trust your experience: “Don’t be intimidated by what AI produces. Humans still exercise expertise that AI can’t match.”

Start small: “The world of AI is ever-changing. Don’t try to transform your whole business overnight.”

Perform a quick “AI readiness check” with the CommBank Business Masterclass AI module and identify where tools could save you the most time. Search CommBank Business Masterclass to start learning.

Why levelling up with AI gives businesses an edge

For Tariq Scherer, who works in data science and AI at CommBank, adopting AI brings a competitive advantage.

Tariq Scherer

“Businesses adopting AI aren’t just keeping up – they’re creating opportunities to move ahead,” says Scherer. But modernising your business model isn’t simply a matter of signing up for every shiny new tool. Instead, consider what your business needs first.

“Do you know which tasks could be automated? Create a list of your top five time-wasters and ask a generative AI tool how to save time,” he says. The secret to folding AI into your business effectively is building your knowledge base first. “Even just 15 minutes spent building your AI skills can make a difference.”

Remember to be cautious with what you share – especially as you’re building your AI confidence. “Avoid inputting sensitive or proprietary information, as many tools operate in open environments where that data may not remain private.”

How to choose the right AI tools for your workflow

Finding AI tools that suit your working style is key. Michael Verghios, digital director at Nimbull, says you may already access them through platforms you use every day.

Michael Verghios

“If you’re in Microsoft’s ecosystem, Copilot can draft emails, polish presentations or crunch spreadsheets. And on Google Workspace, Gemini can whip up articles, images and research in minutes.”

The simplest way to trial tools is to begin with the ones available on platforms you already use, says Verghios. AI needs will differ depending on the size and nature of your business so take a tailored approach. “A sole trader without IT support might want to stick to simple tools like Gemini, ChatGPT or Copilot, while bigger teams could experiment with more advanced set-ups.”

If you’d like a few options to experiment with, “Zapier is the go-to for automation, while Canva Magic Studio gives you the power to create videos and images without advanced design skills.”

Set clear goals to get better results with AI

“Businesses are under more pressure than ever to work faster and do more with less,” says Emily Leiding, AI marketing lead at Microsoft. “AI can help you claw back time you’d otherwise spend bogged down in admin.”

Emily Leiding

Whether it’s sending emails, scheduling rosters or capturing action items in meetings, there’s potential for AI to save you countless hours each month, explains Leiding. “If you’re saving one to two working days a month, that’s time you can reinvest into business planning, customer engagement or sales.”

To get the most out of these tools, Leiding says you need to “give GenAI detailed instructions, like: ‘Summarise this 40‑page deck into a one-page document with the key business insights relevant to a CFO.’ You’ll see the value instantly. AI can take on the busywork so you can stay focused on decisions, not documentation. And as people get more confident shaping prompts, we’ll see a shift from small time‑savings to revolutionising entire workflows.”

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Published: 13 March 2026

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An earlier version of this article was published in Brighter magazine.

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