How to compare AI consulting firms: advisory-only vs platform partners vs firms that build, the red flags to avoid, and the questions to ask before you hire.
A clear method for choosing the first use case, honest answers about your data, a proof-of-concept stage with an agreed pass mark, and a contract that says you own the code, prompts and data pipelines. Ideally the same team can also build what it recommends.
Advisory-only firms assess and recommend, then hand over. Development companies build what you ask for. Firms that do both run the assessment, prove the idea on your data and then build it, so nothing is lost in a handover.
Slide-deck-only deliverables, no proof-of-concept stage, every answer pointing to the same vendor, vague plans for your data, ROI promises before they've seen how you work, and unclear ownership of what gets built.
You should. Ask for it in writing before you sign: code, prompts, data pipelines and any fine-tuned models, plus the documentation you need to run and change the system without the original firm.
In most cases, yes. A small working build tested on your real data against a pass mark agreed up front shows whether the idea works before you commit to a full build. Stopping after a failed proof of concept is a good, inexpensive outcome.
Yes. DevZone is based in Glasgow and works with teams across the UK, US and Europe. Discovery calls run over video, so you can start wherever you are.