From Days to Minutes: The Power of Small AI Wins

Matt Barnes • November 12, 2026

From Days to Minutes: The Power of Small AI Wins

A client used to spend two to three days every month building lease amortization schedules from messy files across many locations nationwide. We got that down to under 10 minutes using AI.

The work sat inside their month-end close. Multiple acquisitions had left them with lease schedules in different formats, heavy Excel formula chains, and no clean way to produce the GL entries. At first we tried to standardize the existing schedules. That path did not hold. What worked was an AI process that takes the actual lease contracts, builds a fresh set of standardized amortization schedules, and generates the journal entries each month. New contracts from their constant expansion land in the same flow. The team now spends less than 10 minutes on a task that used to consume days, and the standardized data makes the process easier to audit.

McKinsey estimates that current technology can fully automate about 42% of finance activities, with another 19% mostly automatable. Yet most finance organizations still carry large portions of that work by hand. In my experience at Workfast Consulting, the gap is rarely a lack of ambition. It is the habit of aiming only at the high-risk, multi-year problem while the repetitive work continues to eat capacity every month.

There are many such examples. Document intake, reconciliations, schedule builds, variance drafts, and exception routing all compress when the scope stays narrow and the output is checked against a clear standard. For teams still early in AI, twenty focused micro-projects can deliver visible value faster than one big-bang initiative. They also build the practical skills and confidence needed before the operating model itself is redesigned.

If your team is stuck on pilots or still carrying multi-day recurring tasks, I am glad to compare notes. Happy to take referrals as well.

What projects are you seeing real value with AI? How do you balance big initiatives versus faster wins?



Celebrating 250 Years of Freedom, Opportunity, and Innovation

By James Stovall • July 16, 2026
Happy Independence Day, America! As we celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday tomorrow, I am filled with deep gratitude to live in the greatest country on Earth. Two hundred and fifty years ago, brave founding fathers risked everything they had so that future generations could enjoy the blessings of liberty. That legacy still inspires me every single day. My father and both grandfathers served in our military to protect our way of life. In my own family and in the Scout pack I lead, I make it a priority to teach respect and appreciation for the freedoms we enjoy. I have been fortunate to travel the world through my work and have seen many wonderful countries, yet despite the amazing international friends I have there is not one country would I trade for the United States. There is simply no place like home. Recently I had the honor of representing Georgia at the US AI Congress in Washington, DC. Starting my mornings with a run past our nation’s monuments reminded me how fortunate we are to stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. I love our freedoms, our ideals, and the unmatched opportunity we provide to every citizen willing to work hard. America has driven a huge share of the technological and business innovations that have improved life not just for Americans, but for people around the globe. From internet technology to pharma breakthroughs we are changing the world for the positive. To my fellow Americans, let us not take any of this for granted. It is easy to focus on our challenges, but I encourage everyone to look at this country with fresh eyes. The recent wave of World Cup visitors has reminded us how much we have to celebrate. Watching them light up over our grocery store aisles, air conditioning, world-class stadiums, free drink refills, BBQ, tailgating, and even a local Waffle House has been a joyful reminder of tiny things that makes this nation special. Today and every day, I am proud to be an American. Let’s honor our past by building an even brighter future together. Here's to another 250 years! God bless the United States of America! Learn more through James Stovall's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jfstovall/ Learn more about Georgia AI Alliance: https://www.georgiaai.org/

Spring Check-In: Turning AI Momentum Into Real Impact

By Sarah Reeves • April 1, 2026
As spring arrives in Georgia and Q1 wraps up, it’s a great moment to reflect on how AI is—or isn’t—moving the needle inside organizations. Many teams are still experimenting, but the real progress is coming from applying AI to solve concrete business problems, even through small, practical wins. At Workfast Consulting, we’re seeing strong momentum with clients who are ready to move beyond pilots and into measurable impact, a theme echoed in recent conversations at client events in Atlanta and Baltimore. For those looking to get more involved locally, Atlanta AI Week is coming up at Atlanta Tech Village, our very own James Stovall will be both a speaker and on the planning committee for the event. 50% off registration available using the code WORKFAST50. You can also connect with the community through Georgia AI Alliance events, including our monthly networking lunch in Sandy Springs. Whether you’re well underway or just getting started, now is the right time to lean in and take the next step with AI. Register now: https://www.joinaiweek.com/atlanta Learn more through James Stovall's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jfstovall_spring-is-in-full-bloom-here-in-georgia-activity-7442960379938402304- Learn more about Georgia AI Alliance: https://www.georgiaai.org/