AI strategy consulting ranges from genuinely valuable to expensive theater. The difference between a $50,000 engagement that transforms your business and one that produces a 200-page slide deck you never implement comes down to what deliverables you demand and how the engagement is structured. Here's what a rigorous AI strategy engagement should produce.
What a Real AI Strategy Engagement Produces
A rigorous AI strategy engagement should deliver five concrete outputs: (1) An AI Readiness Assessment that evaluates your data infrastructure, technical talent, and organizational readiness for AI adoption; (2) A Use Case Prioritization Matrix that ranks potential AI applications by ROI, feasibility, and strategic alignment; (3) A 12–18 month implementation roadmap with specific milestones, resource requirements, and success metrics; (4) A build/buy/partner recommendation for each prioritized use case; (5) A governance and risk framework appropriate for your industry and regulatory environment.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
Before signing an AI strategy engagement, ask: "Can you show me examples of AI strategies you've delivered for companies similar to ours?" (If they can't, they're generalists who will learn on your dime.) "What percentage of your strategy recommendations have been successfully implemented?" (A strategy that doesn't get implemented is worthless.) "Who will actually do the work — senior consultants or junior analysts?" (Many firms sell senior expertise and deliver junior execution.) "What does success look like and how will we measure it?"
Red Flags
Walk away if you see: a proposal that doesn't include any technical assessment of your data infrastructure (strategy without data reality is fiction); a team with no AI engineers — only business consultants (AI strategy requires technical depth); a deliverable that's primarily a market overview of AI trends (you can read that for free); or a firm that recommends the same AI platform regardless of your use case (vendor capture).
The Right Engagement Structure
The best AI strategy engagements are structured in phases: Phase 1 (2–4 weeks) is discovery — interviews, data audit, process mapping. Phase 2 (2–3 weeks) is analysis — use case identification, feasibility assessment, ROI modeling. Phase 3 (1–2 weeks) is roadmap development — prioritization, resource planning, governance design. Phase 4 (ongoing) is implementation support — the strategy firm helps execute, not just advise.
Cost Expectations
A rigorous AI strategy engagement for a mid-size company (100–1,000 employees) should cost $40,000–$150,000 depending on scope and firm. Be skeptical of engagements under $20,000 (insufficient depth) or over $300,000 for an initial strategy (likely over-engineered). The ROI on a well-executed AI strategy engagement is typically 10–50x within 18 months of implementation.
