Do we need to be "AI-ready" before starting?

No. Most businesses aren't AI-ready in a strict sense. That's why we often recommend starting with an assessment as it helps you understand what's realistic and what to focus on first.

Will this always lead to building custom software?

No. Sometimes the right answer is adopting existing tools, improving data quality, or changing processes. We'll recommend whatever actually solves the problem, even if that means less work for us.

How do you avoid AI becoming a black box?

We design systems with clear boundaries, human oversight, and transparency. Decisions, data flows, and escalation paths are defined upfront, not discovered when something goes wrong.

What if AI turns out not to be the right solution?

That's a valid outcome. We'll tell you honestly if automation or AI isn't justified, or if simpler improvements would deliver more value. The goal is solving your problem, not selling AI.

Who owns what we build?

You do. Data, configurations, and any custom components remain under your control. No lock-in, no proprietary dependencies.

How long do projects take?

Focused automation projects typically take 4-8 weeks. More sophisticated AI systems take 8-16 weeks. We break everything into increments so you see progress throughout.

Do we need AI governance and certification?

It depends on your situation. If you're in a regulated industry, working with sensitive data, or your clients and investors expect it, then yes - proper governance matters. If you're running a simple internal automation, probably not. We'll help you figure out what's proportionate.

Automation and AI that actually helps

Less manual work. Fewer mistakes. Better decisions.

Everyone's talking about AI. Vendors promise transformation. Meanwhile, your team is still copying data between spreadsheets, customers wait too long for answers, and the same questions get asked over and over.

Here's the truth: AI can genuinely help your business - but only if it's applied to real problems, not bolted on for show.

That might mean an AI assistant that answers customer questions instantly. A system that finds information across thousands of documents. Agents that handle multi-step processes while you sleep. Or simpler automation that just connects the tools you already have. We choose the right approach for the problem, not the most impressive-sounding one.

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Practical automation that fits how you work

We design and build AI and automation that solves real problems - not impressive demos that fall apart in production.

Sometimes that means sophisticated AI. Sometimes it means simpler automation. Sometimes it means connecting the tools you already have. We choose the approach that actually works, not the one that sounds best in a pitch.

What we typically help with:

Building AI assistants that answer questions, guide processes, and work across your systems
Creating knowledge systems that find information across scattered documents and platforms
Designing autonomous agents that handle multi-step workflows with appropriate oversight
Automating repetitive tasks and connecting systems so information flows without manual effort
Reducing dependency on specific people who hold knowledge in their heads

The goal is always the same: your team spends less time on busywork and more time on work that matters.

Common automation and AI solutions

Most businesses come to us with similar problems. These are the solutions that come up again and again.

AI assistants & chat interfaces

Assistants that answer questions, guide users through processes, and pull information from across your systems - for your team or your customers. Grounded in your data, designed with clear boundaries, and built to handle real questions reliably at scale.

Knowledge & RAG systems

Find answers across documents, databases, emails, and platforms instantly. Using retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), these systems understand context and surface relevant information without exact search terms. Ask in plain English, get accurate answers with sources you can verify.

AI Workflows & Autonomous Agents

AI agents that monitor situations, make decisions within defined boundaries, and take action across multiple systems. They handle multi-step processes, adapt to variations, and escalate when human judgement is needed. Designed with clear oversight and audit trails.

Workflow automation

Automation that connects systems, eliminates manual data entry, and ensures consistent processes across tools and teams. Sometimes the right answer isn't AI - it's just making your existing tools work together properly.

What this typically costs

Automation and AI projects vary widely, but here's a realistic picture:

Focused automation projects: £15k-£40k Connecting systems, automating specific workflows, building simple assistants. Usually delivered in 4-8 weeks.

AI-powered systems: £40k-£100k+ More sophisticated solutions such as knowledge retrieval, intelligent assistants, multi-step automation. Usually 8-16 weeks depending on complexity.

Assessment and strategy: £3k-£7.5k If you're not sure where to start, our Digital & AI Assessment helps you understand what's worth automating before you commit to building anything.

We don't sell AI for the sake of it. If a simpler solution works, we'll recommend that instead.

AI governance, training, and certification

Building AI is only part of the picture. Your team needs to understand how to use it. Your business needs policies that make sense. And if you're in a regulated industry or working toward certification, you need documentation and processes that stand up to scrutiny.

We partner with Hosomoto, specialists in AI governance and organisational readiness. While we focus on the technology, they focus on everything around it:

AI governance frameworks: Policies, risk assessment, and accountability structures that help you adopt AI responsibly. Not box-ticking, but practical governance that fits how your business actually works.
Training and capability building: Getting your team confident and competent with AI tools. From executive awareness sessions to hands-on training for the people using AI daily.
Standards and certification: Support for ISO 42001 (AI management systems) and other emerging standards. Useful if your clients, investors, or regulators expect formal certification.

This isn't about slowing things down with bureaucracy. It's about making sure AI works safely and sustainably in your business, not just technically.

How we approach this

We follow a simple approach designed to reduce risk and avoid building the wrong thing.

1
Understand first

Every engagement starts with understanding your processes, data, and constraints. We often recommend starting with an assessment if the picture isn't clear.

2
Find where it fits

If automation or AI makes sense, we identify specifically where it adds value and what type of solution is appropriate. Not everything needs AI.

3
Build and prove

We deliver in increments so you see progress and can course-correct. No six-month projects that disappear into a black hole.

A good fit if this sounds like you

Your team wastes time on repetitive tasks that should be automated
Information is scattered and hard to find when you need it
You're under pressure to "do something with AI" but want a sensible approach
You've seen AI demos that looked impressive but don't trust they'd work in practice
You want to improve operations without adding complexity or risk

We work with established businesses where automation decisions have real consequences.

If you're looking for experimental AI to impress investors, we're probably not the right fit. If you want practical solutions that genuinely help, we usually are.

Not sure if AI is right for you?

That's a perfectly reasonable place to start.

Book a call and we'll talk through what you're trying to achieve. If AI isn't the answer, we'll tell you. If simpler automation would work better, we'll recommend that instead.

No pitch deck, no pressure. Just an honest conversation about what might actually help.

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The things people usually ask us

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