What it is for
An AI assessment reviews how a company works and answers three questions: where artificial intelligence would save time, where it would generate revenue and where it isn't worth it. Its outcome is not a technology but an informed decision about where to start.
What it should include
- Interviews with leadership and with the people who do the work, not just the IT department.
- A review of current processes, data and tools.
- A map of opportunities ranked by impact, effort and risk.
- Estimated budget and timelines for each initiative.
- An analysis of each use under the EU AI Act.
- A concrete recommendation for the first step and how to measure it.
How to recognise a useful one
A good assessment is able to tell you that something isn't worth it. If every conclusion leads to buying the same platform, it is probably a disguised sale. Be wary too of assessments that don't talk to your team or don't leave you the documentation to decide with or without the consultant.
How long it takes
In a mid-sized company, two weeks are usually enough: one to listen and review, another to prioritise and present the roadmap. What matters is not the length but coming out with decisions you can act on the next day.
