Important
Whether you own a business or earn a salary, the takeaway is the same: start using automation and AI tools now, or risk falling behind. AI is already doing real work at a speed and accuracy humans cannot match.
Not long ago, “being good with tech” meant you had a decent CRM, your files lived in the cloud, and you stopped printing emails like it was 2004.
In a previous episode I talked about how cloud tools and other technology narrowed the gap between small and large organisations. Today I want to focus on one force in particular: automation and generative AI.
Whether you own a business or earn a salary, the takeaway is the same:
Start using these tools now, or risk falling behind.
Why the Urgency?
AI is already doing real work at a speed and accuracy humans cannot match.
This will affect most white-collar fields, including:
- Accounting and finance
- Marketing and sales
- Law and compliance
- HR and operations
- And even medical diagnostics (radiology, pathology, imaging, blood testing)
If your work involves research, drafting, summarising, data analysis, reporting, admin, or coordination, you are in the blast zone.
Tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot can:
- Turn messy notes into structured plans
- Draft emails, reports, policies, and training material
- Summarise long documents into “what matters”
- Build checklists and procedures
- Improve clarity and tone quickly
And their capability is compounding month by month.
For Business Owners: Two Questions That Should Haunt Every Recurring Task
Every recurring task inside an SME should trigger two questions:
- Can I automate this?
- Can AI improve its accuracy or speed?
Start with the repeatable, boring stuff:
- Checklists and procedures
- Data-entry loops and reconciliations
- Standard emails and follow-ups
- Meeting notes and action lists
- Basic reporting and commentary
Practical Examples You Can Action This Week
- Tighten a process — Paste a procedure (no sensitive data) into ChatGPT. Ask for a tighter checklist with duplication removed and QC steps added.
- Template your communication — If you send the same email more than twice, it is a template. Use AI to shorten, clarify, and keep tone consistent.
- Use Copilot where you already work — In Outlook/Word/Excel, use Copilot to summarise threads, draft replies, build formulas, and clean up wording.
- Use Gemini for first-pass research — Ask for key risks, opportunities, and practical next steps, then apply your judgement.
Each small win frees capacity you can redeploy to strategy, staff development, client care, and margin improvement.
To Get at the Front of the Curve
- Assign explicit responsibility.
- Appoint an Automation and AI Champion.
If everybody owns it, nobody owns it.
For Employees: Daily AI Use Is Now Career Hygiene
If you plan to work longer than five years, make daily AI use a non-negotiable habit.
Keep It Simple
- Open ChatGPT and use the microphone to talk through a real task
- Use Copilot in Excel to speed up analysis and formulas
- Use Gemini to summarise industry updates
Ten minutes a day builds fluency quickly.
If You Are an Employee, Consider Your Employer
Ask:
- Are they embracing automation and AI as a priority?
- Or are they stuck with paper forms, manual data entry, and old processes?
If they are progressive, get involved and push momentum further.
If they are lagging, push the benefits, show small wins, and propose a pilot. If leadership refuses to move, consider your options.
The disruption coming in the next three to five years will end many employers.
There will be plenty of Kodaks in the corporate graveyard.
Data Security: The Guard-Rail That Matters
Never upload sensitive or client-identifiable information into a public AI system, including:
- Names, addresses, dates of birth
- Tax File Numbers
- Bank details
- Anything confidential
Use dummy data, sanitised examples, or private/enterprise setups when needed.
Invitation to Forward-Thinking Accountants
If you are a business-services accountant who recognises the scale of this change, or you know someone who does, Atomic Business Advisers would love to hear from you.
We weave automation and AI into everything we do, from compliance to deep advisory, and we intend to lead the profession through the coming shake-up.
Email your résumé to us, along with a brief summary of why you want to grow with a truly technology-focused firm. If you cannot find our email address, you are probably not the person for us.
Your Immediate Action List
Choose one live task today and run it through ChatGPT, Gemini, or Copilot.
Record the time saved or the quality lift.
Share that outcome with your team and repeat tomorrow.
Review your tech stack quarterly — automate, integrate, iterate.
The Practical Takeaway
The automation and AI wave is already hitting the shore.
Ride it now, and you boost efficiency, career resilience, and business margins.
Ignore it, and the tide will pull you under.
Start small, use it daily, build templates, and keep improving.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and does not take into account your personal circumstances. It is not financial or tax advice. You should seek independent advice from a qualified professional before making decisions about tax, legal or financial planning matters, along with loan structures or entity structure.
