More technology. More organisation.

I had an interesting conversation on a dog walk yesterday.

The person I was chatting to works for a large organisation and told me that part of his job isn't introducing more AI.

It's slowing it down.

Not because AI is the problem but because the business wants to make sure it's using the tools it already has properly before introducing more.

That really made me stop and think.

We hear a lot about AI saving time. We hear far less about the coordination it requires.

Five years ago, a small business might have had email, a calendar and accounting software.

Today?

- ChatGPT.
- Claude.
- Copilot.
- Meeting transcription.
- Project management software.
- CRMs.
- Automation tools.
- Password managers.
- Digital signatures.

The list goes on.

None of these are bad. In fact, most are brilliant.

But every new tool creates another process, a new login, a different workflow, a new place information can live and a separate decision about how your team should use it.

Technology is reducing the time it takes to complete individual tasks but it's not necessarily reducing the complexity of running a business.

Founders aren’t usually thinking, "I need another AI tool."

Instead, they’re dealing with questions like:

"Where are the notes from yesterday's meeting?"
"Which version is the latest?"
"Why hasn’t that synced?"
"My accountant needs me to run that report."

That's no longer a technology problem. It's an operational one. Businesses don't need someone to play every instrument - that's what AI is for - they need someone to conduct the orchestra. Someone to make sure the technology, people and processes all work together.

Ironically, the more technology we have, the more organisation we need. I don't think the businesses that thrive over the next five years will be the ones using the most AI. I think they'll be the ones organised enough to get the very best from it.