How much does custom AI solution development cost?
Most agencies won’t answer this question until a meeting has taken place. We understand why you’d like to know sooner — that’s why we’ve provided our actual price ranges here.
| Project type | Duration | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Analysis and Strategy (independently) | 2-3 weeks | Identifying where AI makes sense, with a clear assessment of the next step |
| Prototype / proof of concept | 3-4 weeks | A validated concept that you can present to management |
| MVP in production | 4-8 weeks | E-Ture: first users after 4 weeks |
| Comprehensive solution with integrations | 3-6 months | IK DataHub: connected data infrastructure |
| Maintenance and optimisation | ongoing | Model monitoring, refinements |
What determines the price
This is the largest single cost item and the one most often underestimated. If your data is scattered across Excel spreadsheets and three systems with no common key, 30-50 per cent of the project is spent on data preparation. If you have a well-organised data warehouse, this cost virtually disappears.
A single connection to an ERP system is quite different from synchronisation between an ERP, a CRM and a production system.
A solution for internal use by ten people and a solution supporting a production line have different requirements in terms of testing, monitoring and redundancy.
If a solution processes personal data or operates within a regulated sector, it requires documentation, an impact assessment and an audit trail.
Projects where a single point of contact with decision-making authority is appointed are completed more cost-effectively and more quickly. This isn’t just a cliché; it makes a difference of three to six months.
How to avoid going over budget
Don’t start with development; start with analysis.
A two- to three-week analysis costs a fraction of the project’s total cost and often reveals that the problem can be solved without AI.
Insist on a fixed quote after the analysis, not before.
Anyone who gives you a fixed price for an AI project before seeing your data is either guessing or has built in a buffer.
Set a measurable goal before writing a single line of code.
“Shorten the time taken to prepare product descriptions” is not a goal. “Shorten the time taken to prepare product descriptions by 50 %” is. At Tehnoles, we reduced it by 80 % and increased the CTR by 37 % — because we knew what we were measuring.
Work in phases with deliverables.
You must have the right to stop after the prototype. If the contract doesn’t allow for this, it’s badly written.
Don’t pay for features that nobody has requested.
Every feature must be named after the person who will use it.
What’s included in our price
The price covers the entire development cycle, from the initial stages through to the start of production. It includes:
- Analysis – a review of processes, data and objectives to accurately determine the scope and risks.
- Planning – preparation of the architecture, integration points and implementation timetable.
- Development – development of functionalities, integrations and data flows in accordance with the agreed specifications.
- Testing – functional, integration and load tests to ensure that the solution is stable and ready for use.
- Documentation – technical and user documentation required for maintenance, upgrades and regulatory compliance.
- Implementation – environment set-up, data migration, configuration and deployment to production.
- 1-month warranty – free rectification of faults that arise during actual use.
The price does not include:
- infrastructure costs (cloud, model APIs),
- third-party tool licences,
- maintenance after the warranty period.
We quote these items separately and transparently, as they are your cost with the provider, not ours.