When overhauling a workflow, don't just think "automate." Categorize each step into one of four buckets: delete it entirely, handle with simple deterministic code, use a judgment-based AI agent, or reserve for a human decision-maker (especially for high-risk approvals or negotiations).

Incremental process improvement is insufficient for true simplification. Drawing on Elon Musk's method, the goal should be to aggressively delete steps until you remove one that is actually necessary and must be re-added. This counter-intuitive approach ensures you have identified the absolute minimum viable process with no superfluous elements.

Many companies rush to automate messy processes, which only locks in inefficiency. Instead, learn and refine the process by doing it manually first, as early Amazon and DoorDash did. Only automate once the system is optimized, using technology to speed up good systems, not paper over bad ones.

Automating a flawed process is like "pouring cement" on it. Before implementing AI or automation, firms must rigorously question every requirement, delete unnecessary steps, simplify what remains, and then accelerate cycle time. Automation should always be the final step to avoid locking in complexity and wasting energy.

While engineers manage technical debt, leaders often ignore its business equivalent: process debt. Bloated, outdated workflows can stall even the best products. Simplification and consolidation are often faster levers for growth than shipping new functionality.

Successful AI implementation isn't about applying it superficially over existing operations. It demands deep process mapping and rebuilding workflows from the ground up. Simply automating flawed processes only makes the business execute its mistakes faster.

Before any AI is built, deep workflow discovery is critical. This involves partnering with subject matter experts to map cross-functional processes, data flows, and user needs. AI currently cannot uncover these essential nuances on its own, making this human-centric step non-negotiable for success.

To simplify CX, gather teams from marketing, support, and finance to map a high-volume journey. For each step, ask why it exists and what happens if it's removed. This 'friction audit' exposes that processes are often designed for the brand's internal convenience, not customer outcomes.

The first step to building an AI workflow is mapping the existing manual process. This exercise alone reveals significant waste and inefficiencies that have nothing to do with AI. The push to adopt AI acts as a forcing function for companies to finally audit and streamline their core operational workflows for the first time.