The Gap You Can't See Until It's Too Late
Right now, competitors in your market are quietly getting faster, leaner, and more profitable. They haven't announced anything. They haven't won any innovation awards. They've just figured out where AI creates real leverage.
The AI conversation in the Midwest is broken
On one side, you've got the hype machine. Silicon Valley types promising AI will revolutionize everything overnight.
On the other, skeptics dismissing it as another tech fad that won't touch "real" businesses.
Both are wrong.
The truth is quieter, more practical, and more urgent. Right now, in Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, and Chicago, there are mid-market companies (manufacturers, distributors, service firms) that are systematically reducing costs, speeding up operations, and winning business they shouldn't be winning.
They're making no announcements. They're collecting no awards. They're just getting more efficient while their competitors wonder why margins are tightening.
"We lost three bids last quarter to a competitor half our size. Same specs, same quality. They were just faster and 15% cheaper. We couldn't figure out how until we learned they'd automated most of their estimating process six months ago."
— Manufacturing CEO, Indiana
Where AI Creates Real Advantage
These are practical wins in the work you're already doing. No workforce replacement. No overnight transformation. Just better results.
Manufacturing
- Predictive maintenance reducing unplanned downtime 30-40%
- Automated quoting cutting RFQ response time from days to hours
- Quality inspection catching defects human eyes miss
Distribution
- Demand forecasting reducing excess inventory 20-25%
- Route optimization cutting delivery costs 15%
- Automated customer service handling 40% of inquiries
Professional Services
- Document review and analysis 10x faster
- Proposal generation reducing admin time 50%
- Client insights surfacing cross-sell opportunities
Financial Services
- Underwriting analysis in minutes instead of days
- Compliance monitoring catching issues proactively
- Client reporting automated and personalized
Why the Gap Compounds
When your competitor automates their quoting process, they save time on every RFQ from that point forward. The advantages accumulate.
Month 1
Competitor is slightly faster. You barely notice.
Month 6
They're winning bids you used to win. You start asking why.
Month 12
The gap is structural. Catching up now costs 3x what starting would have.
Six months of their learning can't be bought. It has to be earned.
Straight Answers to Real Questions
Most AI advice is either too vague or too technical. Here's what actually matters for a mid-market leader.
"Do I need to hire AI specialists?"
Probably not yet. Most mid-market AI wins come from applying existing tools to existing problems. You need someone who understands your business and can identify where AI creates leverage. Data scientists come later, if ever.
"How much should I budget?"
Start with $25-50K for your first initiative. This is about solving one specific problem well, proving ROI, then expanding. Companies that try to "transform" everything at once usually transform nothing. The upside: focused AI projects typically return 3x or more within the first year. Some clients have seen 22x on their initial investment when we target the right problem.
"What's the realistic timeline?"
90 days to first meaningful results. Enough to see real numbers, real improvements, real proof that this works for your specific business. That's when you decide whether to expand, pivot, or pause.
"What if my people resist it?"
They will, until they don't. The best AI implementations make your people's jobs better. When your estimator can respond to 3x more RFQs because they're freed from data entry, they stop worrying about AI. They start asking for more.
"How do I know if I'm already behind?"
Ask yourself: Are you losing bids you should win? Are your margins tighter than they should be? Is your headcount growing faster than your revenue? Are competitors moving faster with fewer people? If any of these sound familiar, the gap may already be opening.
What I Won't Do
- Promise silver bullet solutions that fix everything
- Push expensive enterprise software you don't need
- Deliver vague "digital transformation" roadmaps
- Lock you into year-long consulting engagements
- Hype AI as a replacement for your workforce
What I Will Do
- Give you a clear-eyed assessment of where AI can help your specific business
- Focus on practical implementation that shows ROI in 90 days
- Provide honest advice, including when AI isn't the answer
- Target the 20% of AI that drives 80% of value
- Bring experience with mid-market companies, not just enterprise or startups
Let's Have a Real Conversation
No slide decks. No generic frameworks. Just 30 minutes to understand your business, your challenges, and whether AI can actually help. If it can't, I'll tell you.
In our conversation, we'll cover:
- Where your industry peers are seeing real AI results
- The 2-3 highest-leverage opportunities in your situation
- Realistic timelines and investment required
- Whether now is the right time to act, or wait
No obligation. No sales pitch. Just clarity.
Two Paths Forward
Your competitors made their choice months ago.
Wait and See
Keep doing what you're doing. Hope your competitors don't figure it out. Revisit this in a year when the gap is wider and more expensive to close.
- No immediate action required
- Risk compounds over time
- Catching up gets harder
Get Clarity Now
Spend 30 minutes understanding where AI could create real leverage in your business. No commitment. No pitch. Just an honest conversation.
- Understand your options
- Get industry-specific insights
- No obligation to proceed
Apply for Your 90-Day Sprint
Due to the hands-on nature of the Sprint, I work with a limited number of mid-market leaders each year. Tell me about your situation and I'll be in touch within 24 hours.
Current availability: Accepting applications for Q1 2026 engagements.
What to expect:
- ✓ 20-minute conversation to understand your context
- ✓ Quick assessment of AI opportunities in your operations
- ✓ Honest take on what's worth pursuing (and what's not)
- ✓ No obligation, just clarity on your next steps
Satisfaction guarantee: If the call doesn't provide value, I'll refund your time with actionable next steps at no charge.