The outcome and the burden
Name the business outcome, who depends on it, and what makes the current work costly or slow. Avoid starting with a tool or an agent count.
The evidence
Identify which authorized records can explain representative cases. Include people who can correct the interpretation. Available data and useful evidence are different things.
The economics
Ask Finance to validate effort, rates, operating costs, and assumptions. Separate capacity released, avoided hiring, cash savings, and additional contribution margin.
The authority to change the work
Name who can authorize the new capability and stop specified duplicate work once it is accepted. A software budget alone may not establish that authority.
The operating owner
Know who will handle exceptions, maintenance, recovery, and the decision to invest again. These obligations survive the end of the build.
This is a conversation aid, not a readiness score, required framework, or purchase qualification.