First AI Build
A company needs its first AI use case in production — not a strategy deck, a working capability. There is no internal AI team, no data science function, and no prior AI initiative to build on. Every vendor wants to sell a 12-month programme. The pressure is to show proof of value before committing at that scale.
Phase 1 — Frame & Prioritise
A 4-hour clarity session narrows the field to credible targets, then a structured assessment scores and ranks the opportunities into a defensible first pilot.
CTO AI Clarity Session
A senior advisory session for CTOs who need immediate AI clarity and a written next-step summary.
- 4-Hour Structured Deep-Dive Session
- Action Summary (2-3 pages)
After: Credible AI opportunities surfaced — executive pet projects eliminated before they burn months of runway.
AI Opportunity Assessment
A structured, workshop-driven engagement that identifies, scores, and prioritises AI opportunities across your business — and hands you a roadmap you can act on immediately.
- AI Opportunity Register
- Feasibility Scorecard
- Prioritisation Matrix
- Business Case Summaries (Priority Opportunities)
After: Opportunities scored and ranked. The first pilot selected with a defensible business case.
Phase 2 — Design
The selected pilot is architected against the existing estate — integration patterns, model choices, and guardrails defined before any code is written.
AI Solution Architecture & Design
Complete solution architecture for an identified AI opportunity — technology selection, integration design, data strategy, team specification, and governance framework. Build-ready output an engineering team can implement from day one.
- Solution Architecture Document
- Technology Selection Matrix
- Integration Design
- Data Strategy & Pipeline Design
After: A build-ready architecture for the chosen pilot — integration points with the existing estate mapped, model choices made, risks named.
Phase 3 — Scale Internally
Ongoing architectural oversight guides the internal team through the first build and the next two — transferring capability without losing rigour.
Principal Architecture Oversight Retainer
Ongoing architecture governance and decision support for active transformation programs.
- Monthly Architecture Review
- Decision Log
- Risk Register Updates
- Architecture Board Facilitation
After: The next two builds run internally — with the same principal reviewing every sprint so the team scales without drift.
Outcome
First AI use case in production — team ready to deliver the next.
Related Journeys
Project Rescue
An AI initiative is behind schedule, over budget, or stuck in pilot — and nobody internally has the independence or the mandate to say whether it should be fixed, restructured, or killed.
View journeySecond Opinion
A significant architecture decision or investment is on the table — new AI platform, vendor selection, build-vs-buy — and leadership wants independent validation before committing budget.
View journeyLegacy Modernization
A company with a 10-20 year old estate — monoliths, legacy platforms, half-finished migrations — needs AI capabilities, but every initiative stalls on integration complexity. Vendors pitch solutions that assume modern APIs and clean data. Neither exists.
View journeyReady to start the First AI Build journey?
Book a 30-minute discovery call. We will listen to your situation and confirm the right starting point — no commitment required.