The advent of artificial intelligence and machine learning represents a massive shift for businesses across industries. AI promises improved efficiency, deeper insights, better decision making and more. However, for business leaders without a technical background, knowing where to start can seem daunting. This is where AI consultancies come in.
AI consultancy firms and individuals act as advisors, strategists, collaborators and technical experts to implement AI solutions tailored for an organization. They help demystify the AI “black box” through an understanding of data, algorithms, models, automation techniques and more.
“Businesses recognize the need to implement AI to remain competitive,” said David Brown, an AI consultant. But AI consultancy provides the missing piece – the expertise to apply AI effectively and responsibly for an organization’s specific needs.”
For businesses new to AI, consultants are invaluable for shaping strategy. They determine use cases where AI can resolve pain points or provide an advantage. This includes areas like predictive analytics, personalized marketing, process automation, forecasting and beyond. Consultants combine knowledge of emerging AI with an understanding of the client’s business priorities.
“We ask – what is the client trying to achieve? The technology comes second,” said Priya Rasgotra, founder of BRITS Consultancy. AI consultants have a rigorously process for aligning AI implementations with business goals.
Once strategic foundations are in place, consultants tackle the technical work of developing, testing and deploying AI systems. This complex back-end process is opaque to clients without data science expertise. AI consultancies take care of data pipelines, model training, monitoring, upgrades and other technical tasks.
We enable clients to benefit from incredibly advanced technologies like deep learning and neural networks without needing to become AI experts themselves,” said Rasgotra.
For Samir Patel, CEO of Nectar Digit, the technical transparency and expertise of consultancies provides huge value. “Outsourcing AI development to consultants reduces costs and risks compared to in-house trials and errors,” he said.
Regulation is also an emerging consideration. Governing bodies like the UK’s COPA are still forming guidelines on transparency and ethics in AI. Consultancies like BRITS and Nectar stay ahead of the curve on best practices. They implement AI systems that are interpretable, ethical and legally compliant.
Of course, the world of AI consulting has its shadier characters as well. “Some consultants make overblown claims about unrealistic AI capabilities,” Patel cautions. “Businesses should always vet a consultancy’s track record and past deliverables thoroughly first.”
So when does it make sense to bring on an AI consultancy versus developing in-house AI capabilities? Consultants recommend considering these factors:
- Cost – External consultants are optimal for initial pilots before making major investments.
- Time – Consultancies accelerate implementation and avoid lengthy internal R&D.
- Expertise – Consultants possess specialized expertise that may not exist internally.
- Bandwidth – Consultancies tackle intensive AI implementations when internal resources are constrained.
- Strategic agility – Consultancies stay on top of emerging best practices and technologies.
Of course, some organizations are building impressive in-house AI teams. Tech giants like Google and Amazon lead the pack. However, most businesses are eager to harness AI but lack the existing talent and resources. For them, partnering with consultancies is the fastest path to AI success.
“AI consultants give us the strategy and technical expertise to implement game-changing technologies tailor-made for our needs,” said Patel.
The consensus is clear – for businesses ready to embrace AI’s potential, leverage experienced consultants. They demystify AI, align it to your goals and execute solutions proficiently. With the right guidance, your organization can deploy AI and ML at scale and speed. The future of business has arrived. AI consultancies can get you there today.
Don’t let your business miss out on the AI revolution. Get in touch with Richard Batt today to discuss how AI can transform the way you operate.