Revenue-First AI Model (RFAI): RFAI for Evaluating a New AI Tool

Using RFAI stages 1-3 (Map, Measure, Match) to evaluate whether a specific new AI tool deserves budget allocation.

How to Apply

Before the demo, identify the specific revenue lever this tool would serve. If you cannot name it, stop here.

Record the current performance of that revenue lever. What is the metric today? What would 10% improvement mean in revenue?

Score: Revenue Impact Potential (1-10), Implementation Effort (1-10 inverted), Time to Impact (1-10 inverted), Integration Complexity (1-10 inverted). Average must exceed 6.

Expected Outcomes

✓ Data-driven purchase decisions
✓ Eliminated impulse AI tool purchases
✓ Clear expectation setting before deployment

Real-World Examples

Common Pitfalls

⚠Letting excitement about AI capabilities override revenue discipline

⚠Comparing tools on features rather than revenue lever alignment

Ehsan's Insight

I have a rule: never attend an AI tool demo before completing Map and Measure. The demo is designed to sell you on capabilities. Capabilities are irrelevant if the tool does not connect to a revenue lever. One company asked me to help them evaluate an AI content generation platform. Before the demo, I asked: "What revenue lever will this serve?" The team said "brand awareness." I asked: "What is your current brand awareness metric and what would 10% improvement mean in revenue?" Silence. They had no measurement system for brand awareness and no connection to revenue. We cancelled the demo and spent that hour building a Revenue Map instead. That hour saved them $36,000 in annual licensing for a tool they did not need.

Ehsan Jahandarpour

AI Growth Strategist & Fractional CMO

Forbes Top 20 Growth Hacker · TEDx Speaker · 716 Academic Citations · Ex-Microsoft · CMO at FirstWave (ASX:FCT) · Forbes Communications Council

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I use Revenue-First AI Model (RFAI) for new tool evaluation?

Using RFAI stages 1-3 (Map, Measure, Match) to evaluate whether a specific new AI tool deserves budget allocation.

What are the steps in RFAI for Evaluating a New AI Tool?

There are 3 key steps: Map: Which revenue lever?, Measure: What is the baseline?, Match: Score the tool.

What results can I expect from RFAI for Evaluating a New AI Tool?

Data-driven purchase decisions. Eliminated impulse AI tool purchases. Clear expectation setting before deployment.

What are common mistakes with RFAI for Evaluating a New AI Tool?

Letting excitement about AI capabilities override revenue discipline. Comparing tools on features rather than revenue lever alignment.