Do I need to know what should be automated?

No. Most people arrive with a feeling rather than a specification — something takes too long, or only one person can do it, or it gets dropped whenever the week is busy. That is enough to start from. If you can point at one job you would gladly stop doing by hand, we can work with that. If you can’t point at one yet, start with the free diagnostic instead: it finds the constraint first, and the workflow follows from it.

What happens with the first workflow?

We build it. You describe the job the way you would explain it to somebody starting on Monday — what comes in, what you would check, what should go out, and what you would never let leave without reading it. That becomes a working workflow, connected to the tools you already use, running on your account. You watch it run on real work before you rely on it. One workflow, start to finish, so what you are judging is a thing that works rather than a proposal for one.

What happens after that?

It runs. Keeping it running is the recurring part — hosting, the models it calls, monitoring, and the fixes for when something upstream changes its mind about a field name. Most people then add a second workflow, and it is usually one they spotted themselves while watching the first one work. There is no bundle to commit to up front. The next workflow is a decision you make when you want it, and not before.

Can my team eventually build workflows themselves?

That is the intended end state, and the training exists for it. Once your team has watched a few workflows get built, the skill turns out to be the describing — knowing what the work actually involves and where the judgment sits — which is the part your team already has. Some businesses would rather we kept building, and that is a legitimate choice rather than a failure. Most want at least one person inside who can change something without picking up the phone.

Do I become dependent on hmn.plus?

It is the right question to ask any vendor, and the honest answer is that you can be for exactly as long as it is useful. Three things are deliberate: the workflows are described in plain language rather than locked in a format only we can read, they run on infrastructure that can sit in your own name, and we teach the building instead of keeping it. Being the only people who can change your systems would be a business model. It is not ours.

Can we eventually own the system?

Yes, and it is an option rather than a destination — plenty of businesses would rather we kept running it, and that is a reasonable thing to want. When you do want it, the workflows, their definitions and the infrastructure transfer to you, and your team keeps the training that makes them usable. We would rather you stayed because staying is worth it.

The first automation is a fixed price, so the first decision is a small one: NZ$500 + GST to map it and get it built. After that, the platform it runs on starts at NZ$200 a month, which covers hosting, running costs, monitoring and support. Further workflows are quoted one at a time, on what each actually involves — no seat count, no annual lock-in, and nothing larger to sign before you have seen something of your own working.

Why not use ChatGPT, Claude, Zapier or n8n?

They answer a different question. Chat tools put something capable on the other end of a conversation, and then nothing happens unless a person types — every session starts again, and what the business knows ends up living in whoever writes the best prompt. Zapier and n8n wire apps to each other; the wiring holds until a field name changes, and it never makes a judgment call. Both leave the work depending on a particular person. What we build has a fixed shape: the same steps in the same order, your rules written in, a record of every action and the reason for it, and a person standing where a person should stand. The thinking inside a step can be as sharp as it needs to be. The path through it does not change because somebody phrased something differently. That is the difference between a tool one person is good at and a system a business runs on.

Where should AI actually be used?

On the judgment inside a step, not on the whole step. Reading an enquiry and working out what kind it is: yes. Drafting a reply in your voice, from your own past replies: yes. Moving money, or telling a client something binding, with nobody looking: no. What we build to is that anything with consequences waits for a person, and everything in front of it does not have to. A faster version of a bad process is still a bad process, which is why deciding where AI belongs happens before anything gets built, and is most of the value.

AI Workflows: Boosting Small Business Efficiency

The Rise of AI in Small Business Operations

The integration of AI into business operations isn't just for the tech giants anymore. It's rapidly becoming a cornerstone for small businesses aiming to thrive in a competitive marketplace. The transformation driven by AI revolves around creating more human per hour by offloading repetitive, mundane tasks to intelligent systems. This shift not only boosts efficiency but also allows business owners to focus on their zone of genius, thus bolstering strategic decision-making.

Efficiency and Time Savings

Key findings indicate that AI workflows significantly enhance efficiency by freeing up valuable resources from menial tasks. According to a Gartner report, by 2025, AI is expected to generate $4 trillion in business value annually across different sectors. For small business owners, this means reallocating efforts towards core activities that truly matter.

Accuracy and Reliability

Manual processes are prone to errors, but AI offers a reliable alternative. Automating tasks through AI not only reduces human error but also increases the accuracy and reliability of operations. This transformation leads to outcome over activity, focusing on achieving higher operational standards without the usual fatigue-associated mistakes.

Data-Driven Decision Making

AI-driven insights enable small businesses to make data-driven decisions in real-time, giving them a competitive edge. The AI doesn't just digest large data sets; it interprets them, providing actionable insights that can guide businesses towards more informed strategies and optimal outcomes.

Cost Savings

Implementing AI workflows isn't just about boosting efficiency—it's also about cutting costs. By reducing labor costs and enhancing operational efficiency, small businesses can achieve healthier profit margins. A report by McKinsey suggests that AI adoption can increase profit margins by up to 55% for small businesses, a testament to the paradigm shift AI brings to the economic landscape of small enterprises.

The Accessibility of AI Technologies

Historically, advanced technologies were the realm of large enterprises, but that’s changing. AI tools are now more accessible and affordable, leveling the playing field. Small business owners now have the opportunity to modernize operations using technology that was once beyond reach. A Deloitte survey found that 67% of small businesses using AI experienced significant improvements in productivity.

Real-World Success Stories

Consider a small online retailer that implemented AI for inventory management. By automating repetitive inventory checks and order processing, they reduced manual labor costs while simultaneously decreasing delivery times and improving customer satisfaction. Another example is a local coffee shop using AI-driven marketing analytics to personalize promotions, resulting in a notable uplift in customer engagement.

Conclusion: Embrace the AI Opportunity

The benefits of embracing AI workflows over manual processes are clear. For small business owners eager to boost efficiency, cut costs, and stay competitive, adopting AI-driven solutions is strategic before tactical. It empowers proprietors to align operations closely with their unique value propositions, achieving more human per hour outcomes.

Join the ranks of small businesses modernizing their operations with AI. It’s not just a future trend; it's today's necessary shift for those who seek to innovate and grow.