How to select an AI Partner
Also, how to plan your AI budget for 2025
In recent conversations, I've noticed a recurring theme—clients often ask me to build a private GPT in ChatGPT or set up Copilot Studio for a specific use case. While I'm more than capable of doing this, successful AI implementation requires a holistic approach. It’s not something that can be done in isolation. We need to assess the organization’s readiness to fully integrate AI into its processes. Selecting the right AI partner can feel overwhelming, so let’s simplify it by exploring the different types of AI partners available.
To assist businesses in finding the right AI solution, consider these factors first:
Define Clear Objectives: Before engaging an AI partner, you should clarify what they want AI to achieve—such as automating tasks, enhancing customer experience, gaining predictive insights, or developing new products. Clear goals help narrow down which AI expertise is most relevant.
Evaluate AI Maturity: Businesses new to AI might benefit more from foundational training and coaching, while companies with some AI experience may need specialized services like AI governance or product management consulting.
Understand Industry-Specific Needs: Some AI providers specialize in particular sectors (e.g., healthcare, finance, manufacturing). Choosing a partner with industry expertise can streamline implementation and improve solution relevance.
Budget and Scope: Different AI services vary significantly in cost. High-touch offerings like custom AI development or a fractional CAIO may have a premium cost, while AI training and off-the-shelf tools can be more budget-friendly. Understanding scope and budget early helps avoid mismatched expectations.
Consider Scalability and Future Growth: Look for partners who offer scalable solutions and consider long-term growth, as some AI projects need a phased approach. For example, a partner with data infrastructure expertise can set the stage for future AI projects as the company grows.
Level of Support Needed: You may need a hands-on partner offering continuous support, while others only need guidance to get started. Assessing the desired support level (e.g., ongoing coaching, periodic check-ins, or one-off training) can guide the type of AI partner to engage.
Compliance and Ethical Standards: If the business operates in a regulated industry, prioritize partners with expertise in AI compliance, ethics, and governance. These specialists can help navigate privacy laws, data protection, and fairness issues.
Integration with Existing Systems: Choose partners with experience in system integration if AI tools need to work within an established tech stack. Some providers may specialize in specific platforms (like Microsoft, Salesforce, or SAP), which can reduce integration friction.
Pilot Projects and Proof of Concept (POC) Expertise: If you are unsure of your AI potential, partners skilled in POC development can offer smaller, testable projects. This approach helps measure impact before committing to a full-scale deployment.
Cultural Fit and Change Management: AI adoption requires a culture shift in most organizations. Finding a partner experienced in change management or cultural transformation can help ease adoption hurdles, making it easier for employees to embrace AI. This is a big one and often gets missed. Make sure your partner also helps you navigate change throughout the process of working together.
By thoroughly assessing these factors, you can make more informed decisions, selecting AI partners who are aligned with their unique goals, resources, and operational needs.
Here are some AI partner types and a brief description of each to help you identify the right AI partner based on your needs:
AI Implementation Services (e.g., Microsoft Copilot): Specializes in integrating specific AI tools into a business's existing systems. Partners here assist with customization, deployment, and training on tools like Microsoft Copilot and Copilot Studio ensuring they align with business workflows.
AI Developers: Create and customize AI solutions, often building models or applications tailored to specific needs like predictive analytics, recommendation engines, or image recognition. Companies needing unique, built-from-scratch solutions may benefit from these specialists.
AI Training Providers: Offer courses or workshops on AI fundamentals, tools, and use cases. Ideal for companies wanting to upskill employees or increase AI literacy across teams, focusing on practical knowledge for AI usage.
AI Coaches: Focus on guiding businesses in identifying, implementing, and scaling AI applications within their operations. Coaches work more hands-on, often providing ongoing support and tailored strategies for increasing AI adoption. We often hear “I just want a human to sit with me.”
AI Risk and Governance Consultants: Help companies ensure that their AI implementations adhere to ethical, regulatory, and risk management standards. They are essential for companies in highly regulated industries needing to mitigate legal and ethical risks.
Fractional Chief AI Officer (CAIO): Provides executive-level AI strategy guidance on a part-time or project basis. This role is ideal for companies not ready for a full-time CAIO but needing strategic direction to align AI initiatives with business goals.
Data Strategy and AI Readiness Advisors: Help companies assess their data's quality, organization, and suitability for AI projects. They support businesses in laying foundational data infrastructure for successful AI use.
AI Product Management Consultants: Guide the development and market alignment of AI-driven products, helping companies understand user needs, manage product development cycles, and optimize AI solutions for customer-facing applications.
AI Infrastructure and Cloud Providers: Offer the technical support and infrastructure needed for large-scale AI deployments. They manage computing resources, storage, and cloud services to handle AI workloads efficiently.
AI Integration, AI Automation, and API Specialists: These experts focus on connecting various AI tools and platforms with your existing tech stack. They ensure smooth data flows and system interoperability, especially useful for companies with multiple tools and platforms.
Each type of AI partner brings a unique skill set to the table, allowing you to select the best fit based on specific goals—whether that’s strategy, training, coaching, development, integration, or governance.
How to plan your AI budget for 2025
Many were not prepared to budget for AI in 2024. Now that we are in planning season, here is a guide to assist you in your AI budgeting for 2025.
More details can be found here: https://www.cybrcastle.com/ai-for-organization-leaders/how-to-plan-your-ai-budget-2025 See the ROI Calculator.
Start with your objectives and take baby steps with a proof of concept (POC). You don’t have to dive into the deep end first.
Greater Cincinnati AI Events for 2024 (over 70 events)
New events are added weekly. Here are the events that I am aware of: https://kendraramirez.com/cincinnati-ai-events-2024/
2025 dates for you https://kendraramirez.com/cincinnati-ai-events-2025/
November 5 from 3-5 for our CincyAI meetup. Come see why we sell out every month with over 150 attendees. Half of the room is AI developers and half the room is the business community navigating AI. Thank you to UC Research and Digital Futures for your partnership. We have a surprise guest for November, a robot dog that UC developed. You will want to see it in person. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/920237163127?aff=oddtdtcreator
November 12 WITCON Women in Tech Conference. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cincinnati-witcon-2024-collabherate-tickets-923364125957
November 12 Clermont Chamber luncheon. I will be talking about AI. https://clermontchamber.com/registrationcalendar/#id=2054&cid=243&wid=301&type=Cal
November 20 Ohio AI Summit in Columbus https://www.ohiox.org/events/ohio-ai-summit-2024
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Kendra Ramirez
KendraRamirez.com
We provide AI Speaking and Training, AI Readiness Assessments, AI Strategy, AI roadmap and implementation, and AI Coaching for small to mid-size businesses.
We can help you navigate finding the right partner mentioned above. We have worked with several AI partners to meet your specific needs.