A proof sprint is a short, scoped pilot that measures a single real workflow before and after introducing AI, producing a concrete before/after comparison rather than a theoretical ROI projection.

Most proof sprints run a few weeks — long enough to gather meaningful volume on the chosen workflow, short enough to keep other variables from shifting and muddying the comparison.

Choose a workflow that is frequent enough to produce measurable volume quickly, bounded enough to isolate cleanly from other variables, and already recognized by stakeholders as a real pain point.

A proof sprint is deliberately narrower — one workflow, a fixed measurement window, and a specific before/after comparison — while a full pilot typically spans more processes and a longer, less tightly measured evaluation period.