From two days to 28 minutes: what one LCR business learned through Optimise AI

Growing businesses collect inefficient habits without ever really noticing: an extra approval here, a longer report there, information copied between three different systems because that's "just how it's done".

One Liverpool City Region business decided to question one of those habits. The process used to take two days. It now takes 28 minutes.

That's what happened through OptimiseAI, a programme funded by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to help businesses across the region build real confidence and capability with AI.

Liverpool City Region Chief AI Officer, Tiffany St James, joined our OptimiseAI alumni recently to hear the story first-hand, and put her finger on why it matters:

"OptimiseAI is bringing that ambition to life by giving businesses the confidence, skills and practical support to embed AI in ways that deliver measurable results."

It's not really about the tool

The interesting part of this story isn't the tool that got someone from two days to 28 minutes. It's the question they asked first: why was this taking two days in the first place?

That question is worth asking in any growing business, whatever the sticking point turns out to be. The businesses getting the most from AI right now aren't chasing every new tool. They're using it as a reason to look hard at where their best people are losing time, then redesigning the work itself.

Why this matters for the region

This is exactly the kind of impact Gather exists to help create. The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority's investment in OptimiseAI is helping local businesses move past AI curiosity into something real, and stories like this one are proof that funded, practical support genuinely changes how businesses work.

If you're a leader ready to do the same, AI for Creative Advantage gives you the space to bring one genuine business problem and leave with a practical roadmap to solve it.

Starts 7th October. In-person LCR workshops, plus online build sessions. Applications are open now open.