Choosing where to begin can be harder than choosing the technology for an AI project. Too many businesses start with a strategic plan instead of one concrete task that takes up time every week. This article explains why a useful AI pilot starts with a frustration, not a vision.
Technology is not the only reason an AI project can fail. Scope can get in the way too. A project as broad as 'we are going to automate everything' can stall because nobody knows where to begin. Start instead with one frustrating task that comes back regularly.
A good workflow for a first AI pilot has three characteristics:
It comes back every week or month
It has a fairly clear scope: you know when it is finished
It takes at least an hour of manual work each time
Think of the weekly report you compile from three sources, the product descriptions you keep editing, or the document review that returns every month.
Once you have chosen, the pilot follows four steps:
| Step | What you do | Result |
|---|---|---|
1. Introduction | A short conversation: is Hermes a good fit for this task? | You know whether AI could add value here |
2. Define the workflow | Define the workflow: which steps are fixed, and which need flexibility? | The agent has clear instructions and limits |
3. Install | Install Hermes on the system and set up projects and access | The agent is ready to use |
4. Onboard | The team starts using it and evaluates the results | Your team works with it and can assess the output |
Read more about Voltti's full approach.
Then you find out early. A pilot is an evaluation period, not a commitment to roll out. If the chosen workflow is unsuitable, we discuss what did not work and whether another task would be a better fit. A bounded test gives you something concrete to evaluate before investing in a larger project.
For more background on AI agents, read our introductory article on AI agents.
To shortlist a task, use the checklist and examples in automating recurring tasks.
From the first conversation to evaluation, usually two to four weeks. The exact duration depends on the chosen workflow and your team's availability.
We discuss what did not work and whether another task is a better fit. A pilot is an evaluation, not a commitment to roll out.
We advise against it. Start with one task. What you learn can help with the next, but you still need to assess its data, risks, and exceptions separately.
