PIPELINEGuide
How does AI consulting work? Explanation without jargon
What actually happens technically when AI consulting runs in a business — explained for decision-makers, not developers. Including the points where people are still needed.
AI consulting works like this at its core: A request comes in, is checked against stored content and rules, and is either answered directly or handed over to a person with full context. The real work is not in the technology, but in defining exactly where that boundary lies.
01 — How it works
How AI consulting works technically
A prioritized list of concrete use cases with effort, expected benefit, and sequence — that you can actually plan with.
From the outside, here's what happens: A request comes in — through the website, phone, a form, or an existing system. It's captured, checked against the stored rules and content, and either answered directly or handed over to a person with full context. The critical part isn't the technology, but defining where that boundary lies.
The pressure to “do something with AI” is high, guidance is low. The result is expensive pilot projects with no connection to day-to-day operations. This exact point determines how the system is configured — not a general product promise.
02 — Components
What the system consists of
- Half-day workshop with the people doing the work, not just with management
- Documentation of processes, systems, and data situation in the current state
- Assessment of possible use cases by benefit, effort, and risk
- Evaluation of data protection and EU AI Act for the proposed cases
- Information on suitable funding programs and their deadlines
- Written recommendation with priority order and effort estimate per use case
03 — Process
The steps in detail
Preliminary conversation
One hour to clarify whether and where there's anything to gain at all. Free of charge.
Workshop
Half to full day at your business. We talk to the people who know the processes.
Evaluation
We assess the use cases we found and calculate them.
Presentation
You get a document and an hour where we walk through it. Whether you continue working with us afterward is open.
04 — Questions
Frequently asked questions
What if nothing makes sense for us?
Then that's what the report says. It happens, especially with businesses that have very few recurring processes or no digital data foundation. An honest no is cheaper than a project that runs aground.
What does it cost us if nothing comes of it in the end?
Only the agreed price for the workshop and document — there's no success fee and no hidden follow-up obligation. The preliminary conversation is free and is meant to catch exactly these kinds of mismatched inquiries beforehand.
What funding is available in Austria?
Options include KMU.DIGITAL and aws digitalization funding — current terms at kmudigital.at and aws.at. Both require the application to be approved before awarding the contract — that's why we bring it up early and not at the end.
Isn't this just a disguised sales event?
The recommendation regularly includes items you can implement yourselves or with your existing service provider, as well as cases we advise against. The document is yours and works without us too.
Who should be at the workshop?
At least one person from management and two to three who do the affected processes daily. Without the second group, you get a list that doesn't work in practice.
Isn't a conversation with management enough?
No, that's the most common reason for a list that doesn't work later. The people who do the processes daily know the exceptions that an outside perspective never sees.
Do we also get recommendations for providers other than you?
Yes, where it makes sense. Some use cases are better suited to standard software or a specialized provider — that's stated in the document, not hidden.
05 — Decision
How to move forward
The most affordable next step is a conversation, not a quote. Twenty minutes is usually enough to clarify whether a project makes sense, what scope it involves, and whether we're the right fit.
If we're not, we'll say so. An honest no costs less than a project you abandon after three months — for both sides.
06 — Next
Related pages
- AI consulting — Overview
- AI consulting — Pros and cons
- AI consulting — requirements
- AI consulting — Costs
- AI Advisory — State of 2026
- AI consulting — common mistakes
- AI consulting — Data protection
- AI Consulting — Ongoing Operations
- AI automation
- Process automation
- AI training
- All guides
AI consulting by region
Next step
Initial assessment, no obligation.
Briefly describe what you need. You'll get an honest answer about what's realistic and what it will roughly cost.