Opportunity scoring

Score each candidate segment on three axes: how much time or error it removes, what happens if it fails, and whether you can actually build it with the access you have. Score all three before you fall in love with anything.

Then deliberately pick a segment rather than the whole function. A finished, trusted, well-documented automation of one sequence beats a half-built end-to-end system every time — and the finished one earns you the credibility to do the next segment.