What does introducing AI in a company cost?
Updated: 2026-09
Introducing AI costs very different amounts depending on the use case, the data situation and how deeply it integrates — from a compact potential analysis to a production solution inside a core process. What is usually underestimated is not the build cost but the running cost. Clear range after a short first conversation.
On AI projects the price range is wider than on almost any other IT topic. That is because very different things sit under the same word: a potential analysis, a bounded assistant for one department, or an AI feature in the middle of a core process with all the regulatory requirements attached.
There is also a particularity compared with classic software: AI incurs running cost per use. A project that looks cheap to build can become expensive to operate — and the reverse. Looking only at build cost misjudges the project.
What drives the cost
Maturity of the use case
A clearly bounded case with measurable benefit is considerably cheaper than an open search for possibilities.
Data situation
Are the necessary data available, accessible and usable? Data preparation is regularly the single largest item in AI projects.
Depth of integration
A standalone tool is simpler than a feature reaching into existing systems and workflows.
Regulatory requirements
If the use case falls under the AI Act’s high-risk obligations, substantial documentation and evidence effort is added.
Running costs
Processing cost per request, monitoring and periodic review — these keep running long after the project has closed.
How we price
- 01
Fixed price
Where the scope can be clearly bounded, we work to a binding fixed price. You know exactly what it costs before the project starts — no open-ended hourly billing, no surprises.
- 02
Time and materials against an estimate
Where the scope is not yet fully settled at the start, we work transparently against effort — with an estimate discussed in advance and regular cost control, so nothing runs away.
- 03
Engagement / retainer
For ongoing support — advisory, governance or continuous optimisation — we agree an engagement with a defined scope per month. Predictable cost, flexibly adjustable.
We deliberately publish no online prices: every case differs. After a short first conversation you receive a binding fixed price or clear frame.
Parent service: Digital Transformation
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FAQ
Why is there no specific price on the website?
Because a serious price depends on the actual scope, and a number online would almost always be wrong — too high deters, too low leads to unpleasant surprises. After a short first conversation we give you a binding fixed price or a clear range.
How do I get to a binding fixed price?
Through a short, free first conversation in which we clarify scope, goals and constraints. On that basis you receive a specific, binding price — with no hidden costs.
What is the biggest cost driver?
In most projects, data preparation rather than the AI itself. Where the data are clean and accessible, effort drops considerably; where they are not, that is the bulk of the work.
Should we start with a small case?
Almost always yes. A bounded first use case shows whether the benefit and the data hold before larger sums are committed — and it supplies the experience for the next decision.