Most AI consulting engagements fall into one of three shapes. Knowing which one fits your stage, budget, and risk tolerance is more useful than a feature checklist.
AI consulting alternatives at a glance
| Approach | Best for | What you get | What you own | Typical speed | Price signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top-tier strategy consultancy (McKinsey/BCG AI unit) | C-suite framing, enterprise-wide transformation narrative, regulatory positioning | Strategy, playbooks, org design, board-ready materials | Recommendations and governance models | 3–6 months for first deliverables | Project-based, often six figures and up |
| Boutique AI consultancy | Diagnosis, vendor selection, and a clear roadmap without a large delivery team | Roadmap, vendor shortlist, pilot definition | Recommendations and evaluation frameworks | 4–12 weeks | Day rates or fixed scopes, typically five figures |
| Dev shop / offshore development | A clearly spec'd product or feature where the exact model behavior is known | Code, UI, integrations | The codebase | 2–6 months depending on scope | Fixed-price sprints or time-and-materials |
| Specialty Tokens | A load-bearing process where AI must actually carry work inside your existing systems | Running agents, connectors, and handover to your team | Code, connectors, prompts, and runbooks | First process ships in 2–4 weeks | Rent from EUR 4,500/month; Training and Tech scoped |
When to choose which
Best for board-level AI governance and risk framing: a top-tier strategy consultancy or governance specialist. Specialty Tokens can support by building the operating layer underneath.
Best for a clear pilot roadmap without delivery: a boutique AI consultancy. Once the path is clear, Specialty Tokens can build and hand over the pilot.
Best for a well-spec'd product UI: a dev shop. If the AI behavior is known and the interfaces are clear, this can be efficient.
Best for shipping AI into running ERP, CRM, accounting, or compliance systems: Specialty Tokens. The forward-deployed model is built for legacy interfaces, approval chains, and high-stakes workflows that chat tools cannot reach.
Pros and cons: Specialty Tokens vs a consultancy
Pros
- Deliverable is running software, not a document.
- Pricing is public and capped monthly for Rent.
- Handover means no ongoing dependency.
- Senior team embeds with you, not a rotating junior bench.
Cons / when another choice wins
- Not the right fit for pure strategy or market analysis.
- Smaller team than a global consultancy, so very large parallel programs need a different model or a partner alongside.
- Scope is focused on one load-bearing process at a time, not broad transformation.
