How to Start Modernising Your Operations with AI, Automation & Today’s Tech
Most small businesses want to use AI — but don’t know where to start.
Everything feels overwhelming. There’s too much information, too many tools, and no clear roadmap.
Meanwhile, the businesses that ignore today’s tech are in serious danger.
We’ve seen this play out again and again: Blockbuster, BlackBerry, TomTom — giants that didn’t adapt fast enough and paid the price. Denying advances isn’t a flex. It just slows you down.
Daniel Priestley uses a great analogy:
Some businesses are still running a marathon on foot — slow, exhausting, manual.
Others are cycling — using better tools.
And then you’ve got the Ferraris and Concordes — businesses that take tech seriously and move faster with less effort.
So the question is: Are you still running by foot?
If so, here’s exactly how to start modernising your operations today — without needing to become “techy.”
What does it mean to modernise your small business operations?
Modernising your operations means using simple tools — like AI, automation, and smarter systems — to reduce repetitive admin, save time, and run a smoother business. It’s not about becoming a tech expert. It’s about using the right tools to streamline tasks, improve workflows, and make your day-to-day operations easier and more efficient.
This guide will walk you through the first five steps every small business should take.
The 5 Steps to Start Modernising Your Operations
1. Avoid Information Overload (It’s the #1 Cause of Tech Overwhelm)
Overwhelm happens when you try to learn everything at once.
And when you’re overwhelmed, you do nothing — which is exactly what keeps businesses stuck.
That’s why we created The Modern Ops: to give founders, entrepreneurs, and small businesses clear, actionable guidance on how to actually use today’s tools in their operations without spending hours learning them.
Micro-win you can do today:
Join our free monthly Tech Support Group — a live Q&A with myself and Tom (AI & Automation Lead). Bring your questions, learn from others, and get practical solutions you can implement immediately.
2. Audit Your Workflows (Start With Your Biggest Time Wasters)
Before you automate anything, you need to know what’s actually taking up your time.
The easiest tasks to streamline are:
repetitive tasks
admin you do daily or weekly
anything that involves copy/paste
tasks that require the same steps every time
After 10+ years supporting founders and running hundreds of workflow audits, the biggest mistake we see is this:
People try to automate everything at once — instead of starting with the simplest tasks.
If you want help, book a free consultation with Tom to discuss a workflow audit.
👉 Insert link: Workflow Audit / Consultation
3. Use Tools to Modernise Your Workflows (You Don’t Need to Be Techy)
There are countless tools available today that can improve your operations — and most don’t require technical knowledge.
But here’s what most business owners don’t realise:
When you use free tools, you become the product.
Your data becomes the currency.
So choose wisely and protect your business.
To help you, we’ve created a Tool Directory Guide with:
recommended tools for common business problems
discounts where available
notes on security and data handling
Micro-win you can do today:
Automate one tiny task — like scheduling social content, auto-tagging emails, or using ChatGPT to write repetitive customer responses.
4. Stay Curious (This Is Where the Best Opportunities Are)
You don’t need to keep up with everything.
You just need to stay curious.
A huge advantage of our community is that you learn from others who are in the same boat. Everyone is dealing with overwhelm, rapid tech changes, and uncertainty — but when we learn together, it becomes easier.
This is why our monthly support calls work:
You see what other businesses are doing, what mistakes they’re making, and what systems they’re implementing — and this sparks ideas for your own operations.
5. Start Somewhere — Doing Nothing Is the Worst Option
Modernising your operations doesn’t require big budgets, huge projects, or hiring a technical team.
You just need to take the first step.
Here’s where most founders go wrong:
They wait for the “right time.”
They try to learn everything first.
They feel embarrassed they’re not techy enough.
But ignoring it won’t make it go away.
Start simple. Start small. Start today.
Feeling Overwhelmed? We Can Guide You.
The Modern Ops Consultancy Session — £199
This is ideal for small businesses (under five people) who need clarity, direction, and a clear tech roadmap — without committing to a full AI implementation.
In your 2-hour consultancy with Lara, we will:
Review your current processes and systems
Analyse your operations
Identify key areas to improve
Map out short- and long-term goals
Provide a custom Notion Plan of Action Tracker
Your ops team or VA team can join — up to five people total.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Start by identifying repetitive tasks that take up the most time. A simple workflow audit will show you what’s easiest to streamline and what will save you the most hours quickly.
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No. Most modern tools are designed for non-technical people. You just need clear guidance on what to use and where — not technical skills.
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Look for tasks you repeat daily or weekly, tasks with multiple steps, or anything involving copy/paste. These are the quickest wins.
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Start with low-cost tools like ChatGPT, Zapier, or Notion. Many offer free or low-tier plans that allow you to automate small but high-impact tasks.
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Small improvements can be made in under an hour. Larger systems can take weeks — but you’ll feel benefits almost immediately once the first workflows are streamlined.
