AI-Driven Process Innovation: Transforming Service Start-Ups in the Digital Age

<jats:p>In today’s fast-moving digital economy, service start-ups are reshaping industries; however, they face intense uncertainty, limited resources, and fierce competition. This study introduces an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered process modeling framework designed to give these ventures a competitive edge by combining big data analytics, machine learning, and Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN). While past models often overlook the dynamic, human-centered nature of service businesses, this research fills that gap by integrating AI-Driven Ideation, AI-Augmented Content, and AI-Enabled Personalization to fuel innovation, agility, and customer-centricity. Expert insights, gathered through a two-stage fuzzy Delphi method and validated using DEMATEL, reveal how AI can transform start-up processes by offering real-time feedback, predictive risk management, and smart customization. This model does more than optimize operations; it empowers start-ups to thrive in volatile, data-rich environments, improving strategic decision-making and even health and safety governance. By blending cutting-edge AI tools with process innovation, this research contributes a fresh, scalable framework for digital-age entrepreneurship. It opens exciting new pathways for start-up founders, investors, and policymakers looking to harness AI’s full potential in transforming how new ventures operate, compete, and grow.</jats:p>