Field Notes

John Lofthouse

John Lofthouse is a technology and business leader who stays close to the work: architecture, production reliability, and the decision of what is worth automating.

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Articles by John Lofthouse

Operator reviewing honest workflow metrics on a laptop dashboard
Measurement and Value

Automation ROI without made-up numbers: the KPIs that matter

Build a credible measurement plan using your own baseline, a balanced set of indicators, and the full cost of operating the workflow.

8 min read

Hand with pen reviewing an AI evaluation checklist on a tablet
Responsible AI

How to evaluate AI before your business depends on it

Turn a promising AI demo into evidence by testing representative work, defining acceptable results, and monitoring what changes.

8 min read

Team reviewing AI-suggested output together at a laptop
Responsible AI

Human-in-the-loop automation: design the decision, not just the approval

Meaningful oversight requires clear decision rights, useful evidence, enough time, and a real way to stop or correct the workflow.

8 min read

Split scene contrasting repetitive document work with a client conversation
Workflow Design

What not to automate: seven signs a workflow needs another answer

Some work needs clearer rules, better information, or human judgment before it needs software. Use these signals to make a better call.

8 min read

Small business owner reviewing a simple workflow diagram on a tablet
Practical Automation

Workflow automation for small business: start with the work, not the tool

A practical guide to finding a useful first workflow, choosing the simplest suitable approach, and improving it without losing control.

7 min read

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