The Implement AI Podcast #63 – How the UK’s Best AI Startup Builds a 24/7 Workforce

September 1, 2025

Imagine running a business with a team that never sleeps, never calls in sick, and scales without a single HR headache. That’s not some sci-fi fantasy; it’s exactly what Implement AI, recently crowned Best AI Startup at the UK StartUp Awards London, is making possible with its AI Operating System (AIOS).

In this episode of The Implement AI Podcast, hosts Piers Linney and Dr. Aalok Y. Shukla sit down with wealth management entrepreneur Alan Smith to unpack how AI is finally moving from hype to transformative reality.

If you’re a business owner still waiting to “see how AI pans out,” you might want to pay close attention because the window to build a next-level, AI-powered enterprise is wide open, but it won’t stay that way for long.

 

From Curiosity to Real-World Implementation

Piers and Dr. Aalok kick off the episode by reflecting on how far things have come in just two years. Early events drew crowds curious about the shiny new thing called generative AI, but the vibe has changed dramatically. As Piers puts it, “People were there to learn how to implement, not just learn what AI is.”

This shift is vital. In Alan’s industry, AI was once just a fun tool for drafting blog posts or playing with ChatGPT. Today, Alan’s firm uses multiple AI tools to halve the time spent on client prep and follow-up, freeing up hours across hundreds of meetings a year. The result? Material savings and real improvements to profitability.

What’s changed? Partly, it’s the technology itself. The once “jagged” frontier of emerging AI tools is quickly becoming reliable, scalable, and, most importantly, operational. Dr. Aalok calls this the moment where “one year of change equals ten years of progress,” and forward-thinking businesses are jumping on it.

 

Why the Next 2-3 Years Matter More Than Ever

One big theme in the conversation is timing. Implement AI’s team believes we’re in a rare window where deploying AI strategically can double your EBITDA and drive multiple expansions if you decide to exit. As Alan says, “If you can double net profit in a short time without hiring 50 new people, that’s worth paying attention to.”

And here’s the twist: it’s not just about cost savings. The AIOS helps companies grow revenue in ways that old-school teams can’t match. Piers and Dr. Aalok talk about companies treating AI as a “nitrous boost” on the racetrack, putting early adopters miles ahead of competitors still stuck in neutral.

 

What Makes a Digital Workforce?

So what does this always-on workforce actually look like? Implement AI’s AIOS breaks it down into three core parts:

  1. AI Agent Teams: Think of them as your tireless virtual colleagues, each with a name, role, and even a pixelated face to make them relatable. Alan jokes that humans love this “anthropomorphic” touch. Turns out that giving your AI agents a friendly identity helps people trust them to do real work.
  2. Agentic CRM: This is where all the insights from those AI agents land. Did Lexi the sales agent just have a conversation with a warm lead? The CRM knows when to follow up, what the prospect needs, and which human should jump in next. It’s action-focused, not just data storage.
  3. Agentic Task Engine: This is the powerhouse that lets those agents actually do things, such as updating spreadsheets, booking appointments, moving data across tools like Salesforce or HubSpot, and even navigating old-school legacy systems by literally “moving the mouse and keyboard.”

The real magic, as Alan points out, is that all these parts work together like a human team. A 24/7 team that doesn’t need benefits, HR policies, or time off.

 

Why Horizontal Plus Vertical AI Wins

Alan’s insight from financial services is telling: niche vertical AI tools can transform specific tasks, but they’re not enough on their own. Wealth management, legal, and accounting, these highly regulated sectors now have specialised AI products popping up everywhere. The challenge? No single vertical AI does it all.

That’s where Implement AI’s “horizontal + vertical” strategy shines. The AIOS is built to be the connective tissue: a flexible workforce that handles the repetitive admin across departments, while industry-specific tools tackle regulatory or compliance-heavy tasks. The result is the best of both worlds.

 

Final Thoughts

If you’re still hesitating, Alan’s story makes it clear: start small, find your quick wins, and build momentum. The opportunity is now. The next 2 to 3 years are your chance to maximise enterprise value. This window won’t open again at the same scale.

Implement AI isn’t just talking about this; they’re doing it. They’ve built an AI Operating System that takes the complexity out of implementation, so you don’t have to hire a fleet of developers or become an AI expert overnight. 

So, whether you’re an entrepreneur, a manager, or an advisor helping businesses unlock growth, now is the time to act. Because your 24/7 workforce is ready to get to work. You just need to give it the green light.

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Want to talk to Lexi (AI Team Lead)? -> Have her call you for a chat.

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