Ibrahim Anwar: 5 Essential Checks for Businesses Before Diving into AI

Before your company invests in any Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool, Egyptian entrepreneur and engineer Ibrahim Anwar, CEO of Sabeeka, believes there are five essential questions you need to answer first. These questions will help determine your company's readiness and ensure you get a real return on investment from these technologies.

He explained in a post that the first question is: Does your company have a clear problem that AI can help solve, or are you just using it to keep up with the latest trends? He pointed out that without a clear goal, the chances of getting real value from your investment are much lower.

Anwar added that the second question is about data readiness: Is your company's data organized and reliable, or is it scattered across Excel files, messaging apps, and relying on employees' memories? He stressed that data quality is fundamental to the success of any AI project.

He noted that the third question focuses on operational processes: Does your company have clear workflows that can be automated, or are you trying to automate disorganized processes? He clarified that AI doesn't fix operational chaos; in fact, it might even amplify its effects.

Anwar explained that the fourth question is: Does your team have the skills and willingness to use AI tools, or will these tools simply stop being used after a short period? He highlighted that successful transformation depends as much on human readiness as it does on technology.

He added that the fifth and final question is: Has your company set clear metrics to measure results, such as reducing costs, cutting down time, or increasing sales? He emphasized that without performance indicators, it's hard to evaluate whether investing in AI is worthwhile.

Anwar affirmed that companies without clear answers to these questions should first identify their most time-consuming processes, decisions that need more accurate data, and repetitive tasks that can be automated. They should also estimate the expected return from implementing AI technologies, rather than randomly buying new tools.

He pointed out that the best use of AI isn't the most complex or exciting; instead, it's the use that solves a real problem and achieves measurable results. He also announced the launch of the "AI Company Readiness Assessment," a free evaluation that gives companies a score out of one hundred points. This assessment includes an analysis of data, processes, team, and strategy, along with practical recommendations to help them determine the right starting point for adopting AI.