AI Tech Stack Audit Spreadsheet Template
A structured spreadsheet template for CMOs to inventory existing AI tools, identify operational bottlenecks, and prioritize high-ROI implementation opportunities. Use this to audit your current stack, expose hidden operational debt, and present a clear roadmap to leadership showing which AI investments will move the needle fastest.
How to Use This Template
- 1.## Step 1: Inventory Your Current AI Stack
- 2.**Complete Section 1 by listing every AI tool your team currently uses, pilots, or has planned.** Walk through each department (content, analytics, demand gen, customer success) and ask: "What AI tools do we pay for or use?" Include everything from ChatGPT subscriptions to enterprise platforms. For each tool, record the owner, specific use case, monthly cost, and number of active users. This forces visibility into tool sprawl and hidden costs—most teams discover 30-50% more AI spend than they realized. Don't skip this step; operational debt thrives in the dark.
- 3.## Step 2: Assess Operational Friction Across Workflows
- 4.**Complete Section 2 by rating the friction level (1-5 scale) for each major workflow.** For each workflow, score five dimensions: coordination overhead (how many approvals?), approval delays (how long does sign-off take?), data handoff issues (do tools talk to each other?), tool sprawl friction (how many systems does one task touch?), and ownership clarity (does everyone know who owns what?). Sum the scores to identify your highest-friction workflow—this is your first target. A workflow scoring 20+ is a revenue blocker and a prime AI opportunity. The goal is to expose where time is leaking so you can fix it, not add more tools.
- 5.## Step 3: Map AI Opportunities Against Time Savings and Revenue Impact
- 6.**Complete Section 3 by listing 5-8 potential AI use cases and scoring them on implementation readiness and ROI potential.** For each opportunity, estimate current process time (e.g., "5 hours per week to write email campaigns"), estimate AI-assisted time (e.g., "2 hours per week with AI drafting"), calculate time savings percentage, and assess revenue impact (does this unblock pipeline, improve conversion, or reduce churn?). Rate implementation complexity (1 = plug-and-play, 5 = requires custom integration) and data readiness (1 = clean and ready, 5 = needs heavy prep). Use the scoring formula to rank opportunities. Your top-scoring opportunity becomes your first 90-day focus—not the flashiest tool, but the one that moves the needle fastest.
- 7.## Step 4: Deep-Dive the Highest-Friction Workflow
- 8.**Complete Section 4 by documenting the current state, pain points, and revenue impact of your #1 target workflow.** Map out every step in the process, list all team members involved and their time investment, identify all tools currently used, and pinpoint handoff points where work moves between people or systems. For each handoff, ask: "Where do delays, rework, or errors happen?" Document 3-5 specific pain points (e.g., "Email copy requires 3 rounds of approval, adding 2 days to campaign launch"). Connect each pain point to revenue impact: Does this delay hurt pipeline velocity? Does rework reduce team morale and increase turnover? This narrative is what convinces leadership to fund the fix.
- 9.## Step 5: Establish Governance Baseline and Risk Mitigation
- 10.**Complete Sections 5 and 8 to document your current governance state and define guardrails before implementation.** For each risk category (data privacy, brand safety, security, vendor lock-in, shadow AI), assess whether you have documented policies, partial controls, or gaps. Rate severity and identify what mitigation is required. Define your approval process for AI outputs, link to brand guidelines, specify how customer data will be protected, and describe how you'll monitor quality. This isn't bureaucracy—it's the difference between a controlled pilot and a compliance nightmare. A lightweight governance framework (not a 50-page policy) prevents quiet shadow AI and gives leadership confidence to fund the work.
- 11.## Step 6: Build a 90-Day Implementation Roadmap and ROI Case
- 12.**Complete Sections 6 and 7 to create a clear, time-bound roadmap and quantified ROI summary for leadership.** Define baseline metrics (current time, quality, cost, utilization), target metrics (post-AI state), and a 5-phase timeline with specific activities, owners, and success criteria for each phase. Then calculate Year 1 ROI: tool cost + implementation cost vs. time savings (hours freed × hourly rate) + pipeline acceleration (deals moved forward × avg deal value) + quality improvements (rework reduction). State your key assumption (e.g., "Assumes 15% of team time is freed for higher-value work"). A clear 90-day roadmap with quantified ROI is what turns "AI is interesting" into "let's fund this Monday." Present this as your leadership summary—it's your ticket to approval and budget.
Template
# AI Tech Stack Audit Spreadsheet
## Instructions
Complete this audit by listing every AI tool, platform, and capability currently in use or under consideration. For each entry, assess current state, operational friction, and ROI potential. Use this output to identify the highest-leverage opportunity for your first focused implementation.
---
## Section 1: Current AI Tools & Platforms Inventory
| Tool/Platform | Category | Owner/Team | Current Use Case | Monthly Cost | Active Users | Status (Live/Pilot/Planned) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Tool Name] | [Content Gen / Analytics / Personalization / Automation / Other] | [Team Name] | [Specific workflow or output] | $[Amount] | [# of users] | [Live/Pilot/Planned] | [Any blockers or dependencies] |
| [Tool Name] | [Category] | [Team Name] | [Specific workflow] | $[Amount] | [# of users] | [Status] | [Notes] |
| [Tool Name] | [Category] | [Team Name] | [Specific workflow] | $[Amount] | [# of users] | [Status] | [Notes] |
**Total Monthly AI Spend:** $[TOTAL]
**Total Tools in Stack:** [NUMBER]
---
## Section 2: Operational Debt Assessment
For each tool or workflow, rate the friction level (1 = smooth, 5 = severe bottleneck):
| Workflow/Tool | Coordination Overhead | Approval Delays | Data Handoff Issues | Tool Sprawl Friction | Ownership Clarity | **Total Friction Score** |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Workflow Name] | [1-5] | [1-5] | [1-5] | [1-5] | [1-5] | [Sum/5] |
| [Workflow Name] | [1-5] | [1-5] | [1-5] | [1-5] | [1-5] | [Sum/5] |
| [Workflow Name] | [1-5] | [1-5] | [1-5] | [1-5] | [1-5] | [Sum/5] |
**Highest Friction Workflow:** [NAME] (Score: [X/5])
**Description of Bottleneck:** [Describe where time is leaking and why this workflow is a revenue blocker]
---
## Section 3: AI Implementation Opportunity Matrix
For each potential AI use case, assess implementation readiness and ROI potential:
| Opportunity | Current Process Time | Estimated AI-Assisted Time | Time Savings (%) | Revenue Impact | Implementation Complexity | Data Readiness | **ROI Priority Score** |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Use Case] | [X hours/week] | [Y hours/week] | [%] | [High/Medium/Low] | [1-5, 1=easy] | [1-5, 1=ready] | [Score] |
| [Use Case] | [X hours/week] | [Y hours/week] | [%] | [High/Medium/Low] | [1-5] | [1-5] | [Score] |
| [Use Case] | [X hours/week] | [Y hours/week] | [%] | [High/Medium/Low] | [1-5] | [1-5] | [Score] |
**Scoring Formula:** (Time Savings % × Revenue Impact Weight) ÷ (Implementation Complexity + Data Readiness)
**Top Opportunity:** [NAME] — [Reason this should be first]
---
## Section 4: High-Friction Workflow Deep Dive
**Workflow Name:** [WORKFLOW]
**Current State:**
- **Process Steps:** [List 4-6 steps in the current manual/semi-manual workflow]
- **Time Investment:** [X hours per week across team]
- **Team Members Involved:** [List roles and % of time spent]
- **Tools Currently Used:** [List all tools in this workflow]
- **Handoff Points:** [Where does work move between people or systems?]
- **Failure Points:** [Where do rework, delays, or errors occur?]
**Pain Points:**
1. [Specific friction point with impact]
2. [Specific friction point with impact]
3. [Specific friction point with impact]
**Revenue/Pipeline Impact:** [How does this bottleneck affect pipeline velocity, conversion, or customer retention?]
---
## Section 5: Governance & Risk Baseline
| Risk Category | Current State | Severity (1-5) | Mitigation Required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data Privacy/Compliance | [Documented / Partial / None] | [1-5] | [Yes/No] | [e.g., GDPR, CCPA considerations] |
| Brand Safety | [Guidelines exist / Partial / None] | [1-5] | [Yes/No] | [e.g., tone, messaging guardrails] |
| Security & Access Control | [Enforced / Partial / None] | [1-5] | [Yes/No] | [e.g., API keys, data encryption] |
| Vendor Lock-in Risk | [Assessed / Not assessed] | [1-5] | [Yes/No] | [e.g., proprietary data formats] |
| Shadow AI Usage | [Monitored / Unknown] | [1-5] | [Yes/No] | [e.g., unapproved ChatGPT usage] |
**Governance Gaps to Close Before Scale:** [List 2-3 critical items]
---
## Section 6: First 90-Day Implementation Roadmap
**Selected Workflow:** [WORKFLOW NAME]
**Baseline Metrics (Current State):**
- Time per cycle: [X hours]
- Quality/error rate: [X%]
- Cost per output: $[X]
- Team utilization: [X%]
**Target Metrics (Post-AI):**
- Time per cycle: [Y hours] ([Z% improvement])
- Quality/error rate: [Y%]
- Cost per output: $[Y]
- Team utilization: [Y%]
**Implementation Timeline:**
| Phase | Weeks | Key Activities | Owner | Success Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Audit & Design** | 1-2 | [List 3-4 activities] | [Owner] | [Specific deliverable] |
| **Tool Selection & Setup** | 3-4 | [List 3-4 activities] | [Owner] | [Specific deliverable] |
| **Pilot & Iteration** | 5-8 | [List 3-4 activities] | [Owner] | [Specific deliverable] |
| **Team Training & Handoff** | 9-10 | [List 3-4 activities] | [Owner] | [Specific deliverable] |
| **Measure & Optimize** | 11-12 | [List 3-4 activities] | [Owner] | [Specific deliverable] |
---
## Section 7: ROI Summary for Leadership
**Investment Required:**
- Tool Cost (annual): $[X]
- Implementation/Training: $[X]
- **Total Year 1 Cost:** $[X]
**Expected Returns (Year 1):**
- Time savings (hours/year): [X] hours × $[hourly rate] = $[X]
- Pipeline acceleration (deals moved forward): [X] deals × $[avg deal value] = $[X]
- Quality improvement (rework reduction): [X%] reduction = $[X]
- **Total Year 1 Benefit:** $[X]
**ROI:** [X%] | **Payback Period:** [X months]
**Key Assumption:** [State the most critical assumption driving ROI, e.g., "Assumes 15% of team time is freed for higher-value work"]
---
## Section 8: Risk Mitigation & Guardrails
**Governance Framework:**
- **Approval Process:** [Who approves AI outputs before publication/send?]
- **Brand Guidelines:** [Link to or summarize tone, messaging, compliance rules]
- **Data Handling:** [How will customer data be protected in this workflow?]
- **Monitoring:** [How will you measure quality and flag issues?]
**Shadow AI Policy:** [Describe how you'll identify and manage unapproved AI tool usage]
---
## Sign-Off
**Audit Completed By:** [Name, Title]
**Date:** [DATE]
**Reviewed By:** [CMO/VP Name]
**Approved for Implementation:** [Yes/No] | **Date:** [DATE]
**Next Step:** [Schedule kickoff meeting / Secure budget / Finalize tool selection]
Get the Full AI Marketing Learning Path
Courses, workshops, frameworks, daily intelligence, and 6 proprietary tools — built for marketing leaders adopting AI.
Trusted by 10,000+ Directors and CMOs.
Related Templates
Martech Stack Mapping Template
A comprehensive visual and strategic template for documenting your entire marketing technology ecosystem, including tools, integrations, costs, and ownership. Use this to audit current tools, identify gaps and redundancies, and present a clear martech strategy to leadership. Perfect for CMOs preparing for budget reviews or planning digital transformation initiatives.
Marketing Data Audit Template
A comprehensive template for auditing marketing data quality, sources, and governance across all channels and systems. Use this to identify data gaps, redundancies, and compliance risks before presenting findings to leadership. Produces an executive summary, detailed audit findings, and a prioritized remediation roadmap.
Related Reading
Get the Full AI Marketing Learning Path
Courses, workshops, frameworks, daily intelligence, and 6 proprietary tools — built for marketing leaders adopting AI.
Trusted by 10,000+ Directors and CMOs.