You don’t need to take on an entire digital transformation at once. The best way to begin with artificial intelligence solutions is to focus on a specific, well-defined, high-value business problem. For example, organisations often start by automating repetitive manual processes, redesigning user experiences for customers, or improving prediction and forecasting of key business metrics. Partnering with an experienced AI solutions provider or AI consultant can also help you identify the highest-impact opportunities.

With the current hype around AI, it’s essential that your business case goes beyond the buzz and focuses on measurable ROI. Artificial intelligence consulting should take into account more than just cost reduction, it should evaluate the full business impact. Key areas include:

• Cost Reduction -Can AI services automate manual processes or improve resource efficiency?
• Revenue Growth – Could AI solutions create better user experiences, boost sales, or generate new revenue streams?
• Compliance – Will an AI service help prevent fraud, strengthen security, or reduce the risk of regulatory breaches?

Working with artificial intelligence consultants can ensure your business case is robust and aligned with long-term goals.

The rise of generative AI and agentic AI has made prototyping artificial intelligence solutions faster and more accessible. While “vibe coding” a prototype isn’t suitable for final production, it’s a practical way to quickly test business hypotheses and explore what AI services could look like in practice.

If you don’t have AI prototyping expertise in-house, an AI solutions provider like Mantel can work with your team to design and test prototypes. This ensures your proposed solution is both feasible and strategically aligned.

Deploying AI technology in enterprise environments requires a thoughtful, staged approach. Once your business case is approved, the recommended path is to start with a Discovery and Pilot build:

• Discovery Phase – Define the business problem, map technical architecture, and uncover potential roadblocks.
• Pilot Build – Develop and deploy a working cross-section of the AI solution in your production environment.

This method demonstrates both the value of the solution and the feasibility of scaling. After the pilot phase, the AI service can be rolled out iteratively across your organisation, with full compliance and governance in place. Mantel’s artificial intelligence consultants can guide you through this process to minimise risks and accelerate success.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Whether you build or buy depends on your problem, budget, technical maturity, and strategic priorities. Off-the-shelf AI services can be easier to deploy, but custom artificial intelligence solutions may give you a competitive edge – particularly if you’re solving unique business problems or creating innovative customer experiences.

Keep in mind that AI solutions often require ongoing support from cloud and data specialists. Many organisations turn to AI solutions providers or managed AI services to ensure long-term maintenance and optimisation. For custom, mission-critical use cases, working with an experienced AI consultant to build fit-for-purpose solutions is usually the best approach.