Start with an AI system inventory
Most organisations do not begin with a legal problem. They begin with an incomplete view of where AI is already used across products, operations, customer support, marketing, HR and supplier tooling.
A useful inventory captures the business owner, system purpose, user group, data types, model provider, deployment context and any existing documentation. This creates the foundation for risk classification and evidence gathering.
Classify risk before writing policy
Policies are easier to maintain when they are anchored to actual use cases. Classify each AI system by intended purpose, affected users, sector context and possible impact before drafting broad governance documents.
For many SMEs, the first win is separating low-risk productivity tools from systems that may trigger transparency duties, high-risk obligations or procurement scrutiny.
Build an evidence trail as work happens
Audit readiness improves when records are created during normal delivery. Decision logs, supplier notes, model cards, impact assessments and approval checkpoints should be part of the operating rhythm rather than a year-end scramble.
AI Act Ready is structured around that rhythm: classify, document, assign owners, review suppliers and maintain an evidence base that can be reused for customers, boards and auditors.