Small business owners are good at figuring things out. That’s part of the job. But when it comes to artificial intelligence, even some of the most experienced folks are hitting a wall. What is AI, really? How much does it cost? What problems can it solve?

The Durango Chamber of Commerce saw that wall and built a tool to help businesses break through it.

A simple tool for a complex topic

With help from the AI Institute’s Elevate AI incubator and other regional partners, the Chamber launched the AI Readiness Wizard, a new digital tool built specifically for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs). It asks simple questions, offers a custom roadmap, and gives owners the clarity they need to move forward with AI, one step at a time.

“Small business owners don’t need more complexity; they need clarity on which resources will support their long-term success. The ability to leverage AI to create efficiencies and boost profits is at the top of that list. Through this collaboration, we’re helping our business community cut through the noise and gain the confidence to apply AI in practical, meaningful ways that make a real difference to their bottom line,” said Chief Executive Officer Jeff Dupont.

The Wizard runs on a multi-agent AI system. That means different “agents” play different roles. One agent figures out the size and type of business. Another one walks users through categories like data, operations, and goals. A third agent scores the responses and suggests a starting point. Each step is clear, fast, and built with small business budgets in mind.

Designed with local businesses in mind

Over several months, the team developed and tested the Wizard with businesses in La Plata County. They measured response times, reduced costs, and confirmed the system worked across different industries and business types. They also tested how well the agents understood user input and found room to grow. One agent passed two-thirds of its evaluation tests, but flagged too many answers as “unclear,” which the team plans to fine-tune.

Early feedback was encouraging. Business owners said the Wizard made AI feel less abstract. They liked the simple, one-question-at-a-time approach. Some said the roadmap gave them small wins they could act on immediately, like automating invoicing. Others were surprised to learn that AI tools could be scaled to their size, even in rural settings.

What comes next

The Chamber’s team now plans to add a final piece: a Reporting Agent that turns each roadmap into a polished presentation businesses can use with teams, partners, or funders. They’ll also expand testing to more industries, add subject-matter experts, and explore new funding options to bring the Wizard to other rural counties in Colorado.

The Wizard doesn’t promise all the answers. But it does help business owners ask the right questions and see their path forward.

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