AI Consultancy
AI consultancy is a short, structured engagement that identifies where AI will genuinely pay back in your business, what your data and systems can support today, and a costed route to a first working workflow. It is the low-risk way to start: a fixed fee, a clear set of deliverables, and no obligation to build anything afterwards.
Most businesses do not need a grand AI strategy — they need to know which one process is worth automating first, whether their data is ready, and what it would cost. That is exactly what this engagement answers, before you commit to any development.
What our AI consultancy covers
The engagement is deliberately narrow and practical. We look at how your business actually runs, where AI could realistically help, and what your systems and data can support — then we hand you a costed plan you own, whether or not you build it with us.
It is not a technology lecture and not a sales pitch dressed as advice. The output is a decision-ready document: what to do first, why, and what it costs.
The readiness questions we answer
Most of the value is in answering, honestly, whether your business is ready — because deploying AI into an unprepared operation wastes money. We work through:
- Which processes are good candidates? High-volume, well-documented, repetitive work.
- Is the data accessible and clean enough? AI cannot systematise chaos.
- Who will own it? Every deployment needs someone accountable for its outputs.
- What does good look like? The measure of success, defined before any build.
Deliverables and fixed fee
You leave the engagement with three named deliverables, for a fixed fee agreed up front:
- A use-case shortlist — the processes worth automating first, ranked.
- A readiness assessment — what your data and systems can support today, and what needs work.
- A costed roadmap — a sequenced, priced route to a first working workflow.
Consultancy-first vs jumping straight to a build
| Consultancy first | Straight to a build | |
|---|---|---|
| Up-front cost | Small fixed fee | Full project commitment |
| Risk | Low — you validate before you spend | Higher — scope discovered mid-build |
| You end up with | A costed plan you own | Software, if the scope was right |
| Obligation | None — build with anyone, or not at all | Committed from the start |
From roadmap to build
If the roadmap makes the case, the natural next step is a first, bounded build — usually a single automation, agent or integration. If it does not, that is a useful answer too, and you keep the plan. There is no obligation to proceed, and no obligation to build with us — the roadmap is yours to take anywhere.
Frequently asked questions
What does AI consultancy cost?
It is a fixed fee agreed before we start, so there are no surprises. The point is to spend a small, known amount on discovery before committing to a larger build.
How long does it take?
It is a short, structured engagement — typically a couple of weeks from kick-off to delivered roadmap, depending on how many processes and systems we review.
Are we obligated to build with you afterwards?
No. The deliverables are yours to keep and act on however you like — including building with someone else, or not building at all. The handoff is explicitly no-obligation.
Do we need technical knowledge to take part?
No. We do the technical assessment; what we need from you is knowledge of how your business runs. The output is written to be understood by decision-makers, not engineers.
Written by Austen Jones, Managing Director at York Apps. Published 3 June 2026 · Last updated 8 July 2026.