AI Readiness Check: How to find out how ready your company really is for AI

What is an AI readiness check?

An AI readiness check is a structured assessment that evaluates how well a company’s processes, data, technology, and team are prepared for the use of artificial intelligence. The result is not a blanket “yes” or “no,” but a maturity level for each area with concrete, prioritized next steps. For SMEs, this is the first sensible stop before any AI investment: it shows where automation can have an immediate impact and where basics such as clean data or clear processes are still missing.

Unlike general consulting, a good readiness check requires no preparation and delivers results immediately. The AI Readiness Check by bettersorted takes around 90 seconds, works without registration, and also shows at the end which funding options (for example BAFA consulting grants) may be relevant for the identified next steps.

Why a maturity analysis is worthwhile for SMEs

Many small and medium-sized enterprises hesitate on AI not because of a lack of interest, but because it is unclear where to start. A readiness check solves exactly this problem before money is spent on the wrong solution:

• Avoid bad investments: If you first check whether the data foundation is sufficient, you will not buy AI software for a process that still runs entirely on paper.
• Prioritize instead of guessing: The check shows which of several possible processes has the greatest leverage — usually the one with the highest manual effort and the best data quality.
• Identify funding eligibility early: Many programs such as the BAFA consulting grant require a documented current-state analysis. The readiness check provides this basis directly.
• Bring the team along: A concrete, understandable result convinces employees more than an abstract AI announcement.

These four dimensions are assessed by a good AI readiness check

A meaningful readiness check does not evaluate technology alone. Four areas together determine whether an AI project succeeds:

1. Processes and data

How often does a task follow the same pattern, and in what form is the required information available? Structured, digital data can be used immediately. Paper files or scattered Excel spreadsheets are first a digitalization issue, not an AI issue.

2. Technical infrastructure

Are there interfaces (APIs) to the existing systems, or is each application an island? Clean integration determines whether an AI solution runs automatically or has to be fed manually.

3. Team and skills

Who in the company will use the new solution in day-to-day work, and who has time to introduce it? A technically perfect tool without a responsible person remains unused.

4. Strategy and funding eligibility

Does the planned project fit the company’s goals, and can it be documented — as a prerequisite for funding programs such as BAFA or INQA-Coaching?

How the bettersorted AI Readiness Check works

The check is intentionally kept short so that it is actually completed:

1. Around 10 questions on processes, data, technology, and team — answerable without preparation.
2. Immediate evaluation as an AI roadmap with concrete, prioritized next steps.
3. A note on suitable funding options for the identified measures.
4. Optional, non-binding initial consultation to refine the roadmap together.

Practical example: From the readiness check to the first automation project

A typical process looks like this: A skilled trades business from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern with around 25 employees completes the readiness check. The result shows a high level of maturity in data (digital order management), but low maturity in the team — so far, no one is responsible for digital processes. The roadmap therefore does not recommend an AI project right away, but first clarifying a short internal responsibility and then starting with a single, clearly defined process — for example, the automated initial capture of incoming inquiries. This staged approach is typical: the readiness check prevents a company from starting with the most complex process instead of the most sensible one.

Frequently asked questions about the AI Readiness Check

How long does the AI Readiness Check take?

The bettersorted AI Readiness Check takes around 90 seconds. It consists of about 10 questions on processes, data, technology, and team and delivers the result immediately afterward.

Is the AI Readiness Check free of charge?

Yes. The check is free, non-binding, and does not require registration. The subsequent initial consultation to refine the roadmap is also free and non-binding.

What happens after the readiness check?

You receive a prioritized roadmap with concrete next steps as well as information on suitable funding options. If desired, we discuss the result in a free initial consultation and refine the first implementation step together.

Does the readiness check replace BAFA consulting?

No, it complements it. Many funding programs such as BAFA consulting funding require a documented initial analysis — the readiness check provides an initial, structured basis for this.

Which companies is the check suitable for?

For small and medium-sized enterprises, social organizations, and municipal administrations that do not yet have a clear idea of where AI can be usefully applied in their operations. It is suitable regardless of industry and prior digital knowledge.

Next step: determine maturity instead of guessing

An AI readiness check takes you 90 seconds and saves you from a bad investment. Take the free AI readiness check, or schedule a non-binding initial consultation directly as part of our BAFA-approved AI consulting. Anyone also interested in concrete implementation will find the next step after the readiness check in the article AI process optimization for SMEs: The practical guide.