assess AI potential, before you start development start.
Which use case is worth pursuing, what will it take, and what will it cost? Get an honest, technically grounded assessment from a team that builds AI solutions.
Fixed price: €2,500 · credited toward implementation · honest assessment
Potential analysis for Fixed price
No months-long consulting process. Just a focused use case assessment that gives you a reliable, technically sound basis for making decisions.
The fee is fully credited if you commission the implementation. And the assessment document is yours either way.
You will receive this in writing
- Use case evaluation with prioritization - Which of your AI ideas are worth pursuing and in what order.
- Technical architecture - How the AI solution specifically fits into your processes and systems.
- Data protection and operating model - Who runs what, where the data is processed, and who has access.
- Effort estimate for the pilot and rollout - Realistic time and cost estimates for each phase.
- A concrete 90-day roadmap - Clear steps from kickoff to the first production-ready MVP.
- Decision brief for leadership and IT - Clear to both teams, from technical and business perspectives.
A technically sound basis for your decision
We assess your AI use case against the factors that determine whether projects succeed or fail in practice.
Business goal
What should the use case achieve? Less manual work, faster processes, or better data quality?
Process reference
Where is the work happening today? Which steps are repetitive, error-prone, or time-consuming?
Data situation
What data and documents are available? Are they structured, complete, and good enough to use?
Technical feasibility
Which architectures, interfaces, and AI models are viable? What technical risks should you consider?
Risks and limitations
What are the data privacy, quality, and operational risks? What are the solution’s limitations?
MVP scope
What would a useful first version look like? Which clearly scoped pilot can deliver measurable results with a reasonable level of effort?
From a fixed-price assessment to a scalable AI system
We support you from the initial assessment through company-wide deployment.
AI consulting vs. pure strategy consulting
What sets us apart is the development expertise within our consulting team.
| Criterion | Pure strategy consulting | CodeGuides AI consulting |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Concepts and scenarios | ✓ Implementable use cases |
| Technical expertise | General recommendations | ✓ Feasibility, APIs, architecture |
| Existing systems | Often not rated | ✓ Data, ERP, interfaces checked |
| Result | Strategy paper / slides | ✓ Clear MVP or implementation plan |
| Cost estimation | Often too optimistic | ✓ Realistic from development experience |
| Implementation | New provider required | ✓ Direct transition possible |
How much does AI really cost in companies?
Clear budget ranges, not marketing spin, so you know what to expect.
| Project phase | What happens | Typical budget framework |
|---|---|---|
| AI potential analysis | Use case assessment, data review, target architecture, and roadmap | 2,500 € fixed price |
| Pilot / MVP | A clearly scoped use case in production, including integration | 15,000 to 40,000 € |
| Rollout | Multiple use cases, data integration, roles and permissions, and operations | 40,000 to 150,000 € |
| Operations & scaling | Maintenance, monitoring, new use cases, and model updates | ongoing, project dependent |
Estimates based on CodeGuides projects in Germany. The actual scope depends on your data, integrations, and operating model (cloud or on-premises) and will be defined during the potential analysis.
Cloud AI vs. local AI (on-premise)
One of the most important decisions to make before starting development.
| Criterion | Cloud AI (e.g. OpenAI, Azure) | Local / On-Premise AI |
|---|---|---|
| Data sovereignty | Data leaves the company | Data remains completely in-house |
| Entry costs | Low, ready to go quickly | Higher, own infrastructure required |
| Data protection / compliance | Depends on the provider and location | Full control, ideal for regulated industries |
| Operating costs | Low (Managed) | Higher (own hosting & operation) |
| Best suited for | Non-sensitive data, rapid pilots | Sensitive data, trade secrets, regulation |
How our AI consulting process works
A structured, transparent process without a long lead time, from your first idea to a clear implementation plan.
Initial consultation (online)
Tell us about your goals, current situation, and ideas. If needed, we’ll then review the conditions at your location.
Identify and evaluate use cases
Identify potential AI use cases and assess them based on value, data, effort, and risk.
MVP scope and implementation plan
Define a realistic first step, including the architecture, estimated effort, and specific next steps.
Example: from analysis to productive AI pilot
An anonymized example of how a typical AI project works at CodeGuides.
AI assistant built on your own documents (RAG)
An example based on a mid-sized B2B service provider in Germany.
Industry
B2B service provider, mid-sized company (Germany)
Initial challenge
Quotation and document creation is very manual, takes a lot of time, inconsistent quality
Solution
AI assistant based on your own documents (RAG), connected to the existing DMS
Technology stack
LLM and vector database, API integration, role-based access controls, and GDPR-compliant hosting in Germany
Approach
Potential analysis → defined pilot → gradual rollout
Result
Significantly faster document creation, more consistent quality, and less work for employees
Time to pilot
approx. 8 weeks after analysis
Budget framework
Analysis: €2,500 · Pilot: €15,000–€40,000
CodeGuides is an app and AI agency from Germany for Flutter apps, custom software, AI process automation, and local AI infrastructure. We provide consulting and implementation as one team: assessing AI use cases, building the first pilot, and scaling it for company-wide operations, with GDPR-compliant hosting in Germany.
Who can benefit from AI consulting?
A good fit if you think AI could help but aren’t sure how.
Useful if...
- You have several AI ideas but aren’t sure where to start
- You want to understand the costs and benefits before making an investment decision
- Existing systems, data, or processes need to be taken into account
- You’re aiming for an MVP rather than a large-scale AI project
- Your business and IT teams need a shared basis for making a decision
Not the right fit if...
- You’re looking only for a general AI presentation or tool training
- You don’t have a specific question or process in mind
- There’s no internal point of contact in the relevant department or IT
- There’s no budget planned for implementation or an MVP
Assess first.
Then build.
We’d rather flag a difficult limitation now than let you discover later that your data isn’t suitable. Our advice is honest and technically grounded, so your project has a solid foundation.
Questions companies ask about AI projects on forums and Reddit
Here are honest, straightforward answers to the questions that come up when discussing AI costs, cloud versus on-premises, and choosing an agency.
Reddit question“Is an AI agency worth it, or should I just use ChatGPT myself?”
A ChatGPT subscription is enough for simple writing tasks. But once you need Own data, integration into existing systems, data protection and reliable results in operation It will be a software project, not a chat window. This is exactly where an agency that honestly evaluates the use case beforehand is worthwhile instead of immediately selling you a project.
Forum question“What does AI really cost a business, without the marketing fluff?”
Realistic cost ranges: Analysis: approximately €2,500, first pilot ~15,000 to 40,000 €, Company-wide rollout: approximately €40,000–€150,000Anyone who gives you a fixed number without reviewing your data and systems is guessing. The biggest cost driver is rarely the AI model; it’s usually data preparation and integration.
Reddit question“Cloud AI or on-premises AI: which should a mid-sized business choose?”
Rule of thumb: Non-sensitive data → cloud (fast and affordable). Sensitive or regulated data → local/on-premise (data sovereignty). Many people drive hybrid cars. The important thing isn’t the ideology; it’s which data the use case actually touches—a question to answer before writing the first line of code.
Forum question“How do I know if an AI project will fail?”
Common warning signs: No clearly defined use case, no or bad data, No internal owner and no integration into existing processes. If three of these apply, a large project is risky; a small, measurable pilot is almost always a smarter start.
Frequently asked questions about AI consulting
AI consulting involves analyzing and evaluating AI use cases in your company. This includes identifying promising use cases, examining your data, assessing technical feasibility, analyzing integration requirements and data protection, and recommending prioritized next steps.
If you know your company could benefit from AI but still have questions—Which use case? What data do we need? What will it cost? How do we integrate it with existing systems?—a structured AI consultation is the right first step.
The first step is a potential analysis for a fixed fee of €2,500, which is fully credited toward implementation if you move forward with us. We assess the use case, data, and system landscape, then provide a well-founded recommendation. Next come the concept, development of an LLM solution for an initial use case, and plans for further scaling.
Strategy consultants assess market potential and business scenarios. CodeGuides assesses technical feasibility, data availability, system integration, and development effort. We’re a software development agency, not a management consulting firm.
Yes. If the analysis shows that an AI project makes sense, CodeGuides can move straight into development—no need to select a new vendor.
Then let’s say it clearly. We are not interested in a project that doesn't work afterwards. The consultation provides an honest assessment, even if the result is a clear no.
Depending on the scope, a focused use case workshop followed by analysis typically takes 2 to 4 weeks.
No. You just need a specific process or problem. Identifying the right AI approach is part of the consultation.
As a rough guide, the potential analysis costs a fixed €2,500. In our projects, a first production-ready AI pilot (a clearly defined use case) usually costs between €15,000 and €40,000. A company-wide rollout with multiple use cases, data connections, and ongoing operations typically costs between €40,000 and €150,000. The exact cost depends on the data, integrations, and operating model (cloud or on-premises).
Cloud AI (such as OpenAI or Azure OpenAI) is quicker and less expensive to get started with, but sensitive data leaves your organization. Local or on-premises AI (with your own LLM infrastructure) keeps all data within your company. It’s often a better choice for data protection, trade secrets, and regulated industries, but requires more infrastructure. For many mid-sized companies, a hybrid approach makes sense: cloud for noncritical tasks and local AI for sensitive data. Evaluating these tradeoffs is part of the potential analysis.
The potential analysis typically takes 2 to 4 weeks. A first productive pilot can then usually be implemented in 6 to 12 weeks, depending on the data situation and depth of integration.
Yes. AI projects at mid-sized companies rarely fail because of the technology. More often, the use cases are unclear, the data is inadequate, or the solution isn’t integrated with existing systems (ERP, DMS, CRM). A focused potential analysis helps prevent a six-figure budget from going toward a project that won’t work in practice.
AI potential analysis with real experts
Answer three quick questions about your project. We’ll get back to you personally within one business day—not with an automated response.
- Fixed fee: €2,500, fully credited toward implementation
- A development team, not a sales-driven consulting firm
- Honest assessment, even if it's a no
Thank you very much!
We’ve received your request. We’ll get back to you within one business day with a personalized assessment.
You have an AI idea, but aren’t sure what to do next
Clarity about feasibility?
We assess technical feasibility, your data, and system integration, then give you an honest recommendation for the next step.
Fixed fee: €2,500 · credited toward implementation · response within 1 business day
Project questions and practical answers
How does AI strategy consulting become a delivery plan?
Tie each proposed use case to a business owner, available data and a measurable outcome. Prioritize by feasibility, risk and total operating cost. Define governance, human review and integration responsibilities, then commission a bounded pilot. A production roadmap should include evaluation, staff training and support rather than ending with a list of possible tools.