The AI-Ready Company Fixes the Handoffs Before Adding AI
August 27, 2026 · 5 claims
This article examines how companies like PepsiCo, McDonald's, and Stripe prepare their business processes before implementing AI. It argues that fixing workflow inefficiencies and handoffs is critical before automation, using the "two-week handoff test" as a measure of process readiness.
Deloitte Readiness Statistic
In Deloitte's August 2026 survey, only 5% of 501 leaders called business processes highly prepared for AI.
Two-Week Handoff Test
The two-week handoff test reveals whether a process depends on one employee's undocumented knowledge.
PepsiCo's Simulation Strategy
PepsiCo simulated expensive engineering decisions before committing physical capital to facility changes.
McDonald's Drive-Through Test
McDonald's ended its IBM voice automation drive-through test without publishing final operating results.
Stripe's Compliance Redesign
Stripe redesigned compliance reviews using AI evidence gathering while keeping humans responsible for final judgments.