Pick the business task before the AI tool.
Microsoft's own rollout lessons have a useful takeaway for a much smaller team: start with a concrete task.
What Microsoft reported
In a September 17, 2026 article, Microsoft described lessons from its internal use of AI, including starting with a business outcome rather than a technology rollout and examining the whole process rather than a single task. These are the company's own reported experiences, not independent evidence of what any small business will achieve.
A practical interpretation
For a small team, write down one recurring task, who does it, what information it needs, and where someone must review the result. That gives you a clearer basis for evaluating a tool than a list of impressive features.
Try a limited example
A first exercise might be drafting a reply to a common customer question using a made-up example. Compare the result with your usual reply, check the facts, and decide whether it actually helps. Do not use sensitive customer details just to test a tool.
Keep the claim small
One company's internal results are not a promise for your business. A short trial using your own measures tells you more about whether the tool fits your work. The original Microsoft article is linked below.