Turn AI and automation ideas into a structured innovation roadmap, guided by a vCIO who connects emerging technology with your business goals, risk appetite and compliance obligations.
Enabling Innovation with Strategic Intent
Business AI strategy, automation and innovation enablement through our vCIO service.
Innovation only delivers value when it is intentional, governed and aligned with how your organisation actually works.
As part of Microsolve’s vCIO Innovation stream, we help you turn AI and automation opportunities into a structured roadmap that supports your strategy, strengthens security and protects business continuity.
You gain clear priorities, pragmatic pilots and a calm partner who keeps innovation controlled, transparent and outcome‑focused.
From AI buzzwords to practical innovation
Curiosity about AI is high, but unstructured experimentation creates risk, workload and distraction. Business leaders are dealing with staff trying new tools, vendors promising “AI‑powered” everything, and genuine pressure to improve efficiency without compromising compliance.
Our role is to cut through the noise, identify where AI and automation can genuinely improve how you operate, and ensure every step is deliberate and defensible.
We start with your objectives, constraints and risk appetite. Together we map where AI, data and automation can reduce manual effort, improve decision‑making or enhance customer experience, then we prioritise initiatives based on value, complexity and dependency on your existing systems.
The result is a focused AI innovation strategy- not a collection of disconnected experiments.
Data Fragmentation
Your customer lists, emails, and work records live in separate spots like spreadsheets, folders, or apps. AI needs clean, unified feeds to be useful. Businesses lose 15-20% productivity, which adds up to days by trying to bridge these manually.
We map and merge them compliantly, prepping for automation wins like predictive sales forecasting you didn't realise was possible.
Cyber Exposure
New AI tools add more connections, like chat helpers or online links, which hackers love. Old passwords or unchecked spots let attacks in easy. One problem can cost thousands in fixes and fines.
We lock it down tight from day one, catching weak points like poor logins you might miss. vCIO Innovation means proactive support, not just reactive fixes.
Scale Stalls
As your business grows, it needs more power, but old computers, slow internet, or full storage bring everything to a halt. What runs fine for a small team crashes with more people. Companies lose weeks fixing this during busy times.
We check and upgrade the basics, so AI keeps up no matter how big you get to avoid stalled expansions
Human First Approach
A structured approach to AI and automation enablement
Successful adoption of emerging technologies does not happen by accident.
We use the same disciplined thinking that underpins our Strategy & Governance, Architecture & Application and Security streams to guide your AI and automation agenda.
This keeps innovation tied to clear decision‑making, accountable ownership and measurable outcomes.
A typical engagement includes:
- Readiness and opportunity assessment - Data, processes, skills, risk appetite.
- AI and automation roadmap - aligned with business strategy and existing IT architecture.
- Enablement sessions and use‑case workshops with business leaders.
- Design of pilots and proof‑of‑concepts (not full product build), including success measures.
Automation in action: where we create value
Automation is often where AI delivers its first real wins.
We focus on practical, secure automations that reduce manual effort, remove friction and improve the reliability of everyday processes.
Typical automation scenarios include:
Workflow automation
Approvals, onboarding, offboarding, service requests and routine checks that currently rely on email and spreadsheets.
Data and application integration
Securely moving and synchronising data between your line‑of‑business systems, Microsoft 365 and other cloud platforms.
Document and communication automation
Routing, classifying and notifying on key documents, forms and emails so teams see what matters at the right time.
Monitoring, reporting and alerts
Automated logs, dashboards and exception notifications that surface issues early and reduce manual reporting overhead.
We typically implement these solutions using secure, enterprise‑grade platforms such as Microsoft Power Automate and integration/orchestration tools like n8n, selected to fit your environment, governance model and budget.
Our focus is not on the tools themselves, but on designing automation that is supportable, auditable and aligned with your broader IT strategy.
Security‑first AI and automation
Every AI or automation initiative must respect your security posture, compliance obligations and resilience requirements. We treat security and governance as core design inputs, not an afterthought once pilots are underway.
This security‑first approach means you can adopt AI and automation with confidence, knowing that innovation is strengthening your organisation rather than introducing hidden risk.
Boundaries
Define clear boundaries for data access, storage and sharing in any AI or automation use‑case.
Least‑privilege access
Apply least‑privilege access and separation of duties so automations cannot overreach or be abused.
Logging & Auditing
Ensure logging, audit trails and change control are in place so you can demonstrate compliance and diagnose issues quickly.
Alignment
Align new initiatives with your existing risk management, incident response and business continuity frameworks.
Integrating AI and automation into your IT strategy
AI and automation should extend and enhance the IT strategy you already have, not create a parallel shadow environment. Through the vCIO Innovation stream we work closely with your other streams—Strategy & Governance, Architecture, Security and Resourcing—to keep everything connected.
We ensure AI and automation initiatives:
- Sit on stable, well‑managed infrastructure and services, not fragile workarounds.
- Respect your enterprise architecture and application roadmap, avoiding unnecessary duplication or technical debt.
- Feed into your governance cadence, with clear metrics, ownership and review points so you can adjust course as you learn.
This integrated view lets executives see AI and automation as part of a coherent technology narrative, supporting long‑term resilience and growth.
Frequently asked questions
How does a Business AI Strategy engagement fit into the vCIO Innovation stream?
Business AI Strategy is delivered as part of Microsolve's vCIO Innovation stream. It focuses on AI innovation strategy, automation opportunity discovery, readiness assessments and structured roadmaps, giving your leadership team clear, governed steps for AI adoption rather than isolated technology projects.
What types of AI and automation opportunities can you help identify?
We help identify practical AI and automation opportunities such as workflow automation, document processing, analytics and reporting, customer experience improvements and the use of AI copilots.
Each initiative is assessed for business value, risk, security, compliance and fit with your existing IT strategy.
Is our organisation ready for AI innovation?
We start with an AI readiness assessment that reviews your data foundations, current systems, risk appetite, governance structures and staff capability.
Many organisations are ready to begin with a small number of focused AI or automation pilots that prove value while managing risk.
How do you manage AI risk, security and compliance?
Our Business AI Strategy engagements align AI initiatives with your existing security, governance and compliance frameworks.
We define clear boundaries for data access and usage, promote responsible AI use, and ensure AI and automation projects are designed with auditability, resilience and continuity in mind.
Do you only work with businesses in Sydney and NSW?
Microsolve primarily supports organisations in Sydney, Wollongong and across regional New South Wales with local AI strategy and innovation consulting.
We also work with customers across Australia via remote vCIO engagements where appropriate.
Talk to a vCIO about AI, innovation and automation
If you are under pressure to “do something with AI” but need to protect security, compliance and continuity, a focused conversation with our vCIO team is a safe place to start. We will explore your current challenges, potential AI and automation opportunities, and what a structured, security‑first innovation roadmap could look like for your organisation.