Are You Actually Ready for a Chatbot?

Does leadership actively support this project, not just tolerate it?

Can you state, in one sentence, the specific problem the chatbot solves?

Is there a realistic budget set aside for build, launch, and ongoing maintenance?

Does someone internally understand the system well enough to maintain it long-term?

Have the people who will actually use this been consulted, not just told?

Do you have (or a plan for) the hosting and infrastructure this needs?

Do you know which existing systems this needs to connect to, and how?

Is the knowledge base content this will draw from accurate and current?

Have you thought about what happens if usage is 10x what you expect?

Do you have a plan for data minimization, encryption, and access control?

Do you know exactly where the data this system touches will live?

Have you checked this against the regulations that apply to your industry?

Are there sector-specific standards (HIPAA, PCI, SOC 2) this needs to meet?

Has someone thought through the actual conversation flow a user will experience?

Is there a plan for who watches this after launch, and how often it gets updated?