Production lines get sensors; big screens spin—written up as "already intelligent." Ask who changed scheduling from those numbers once—if nobody, you are still at connect. Maturity has three steps: data arrives reliably (connect), people make routine decisions from numbers (use data), systems advise or act within rules (use intelligence). Skip-ahead model purchases spin in holes from the first two steps.
Self-assessment is not a score for slides—it decides which single step you attack next quarter.
Pass Criteria for Each Step
Connect: key equipment or documents capture steadily; outages visible; timestamps trusted. Use data: each role has two or three routine metrics, definitions written, weekly meetings use the same sheet. Use intelligence: advice can be refused and audited; errors roll back. No connect—pretty warehouse does not matter. No use data—do not talk assistants.
- Connect: judge completeness and latency—not sensor count.
- Use data: judge whether work orders, inventory, or collections changed—not report count.
- Use intelligence: judge fewer repeated human judgments—not demo wow.
Cross One Step at a Time
Most SMEs stall at use data: numbers exist, roles still decide by gut. Write routine decisions as "when this number, do this"—that step passes. The XYN digital intelligence system separates capture, metrics, and advice by scenario—avoid stacking intelligence on day one. Honest assessment lands investment on the gap—not the layer with the best story.
Name which step you stop on first. Cannot name it—you are probably still connecting while already buying intelligence ads.
