How much does AI implementation cost? There is no single sticker price — a focused pilot typically starts from a few thousand euros, while a full production rollout is scoped to the systems, data, and use-cases it touches. Rather than quote a number blind, we price against six concrete cost drivers and split the work into three funded stages, so you only commit to the next step once the previous one has proven its return. For companies in Croatia in particular, EU-backed grants can cover a large share of that cost.
What actually drives the cost
Two AI projects with the same headline goal can differ five- to tenfold in price. These are the factors that move the number:
- Scope and number of use-cases. One well-defined workflow — say, automated quote generation — costs far less than a programme spanning support, sales, and operations at the same time.
- System integrations. Reading and writing data in your CRM, ERP, ticketing, or custom databases is where much of the engineering effort lives. More systems and older APIs mean more work.
- Data readiness. Clean, accessible, well-labelled data shortens delivery; scattered spreadsheets, PDFs, and undocumented tables add a preparation stage before any AI can be trusted.
- Off-the-shelf vs custom. Configuring a proven platform is cheaper and faster than building bespoke models or agents tuned to your exact process.
- Compliance and governance. GDPR, the EU AI Act, audit trails, data residency, and human-in-the-loop controls add necessary — and real — cost in regulated sectors.
- Ongoing support. Monitoring, retraining, and optimization are an operating cost, not a one-off. This is usually a modest monthly retainer rather than a large upfront figure.
How we package the work
Every engagement is quoted individually, but almost all follow the same three stages — and you can stop after any one of them.
1. Pilot — fixed scope, 4–8 weeks
One high-impact use-case delivered as a working solution against a fixed price. It includes discovery and scoping, a single integration, a measurable success metric, and a clear go/no-go decision at the end. This is where "from a few thousand euros" applies, and where the payback case is proven before you invest further. Request pricing for your specific use-case.
2. Implementation — production rollout
We take the validated pilot into production: full integrations with your CRM/ERP and other systems, security and access controls, staff enablement, and KPI reporting. Priced to the number of systems and use-cases in scope. Custom quote follows the scoping call.
3. Scale & manage — optimization and governance
Ongoing tuning, additional use-cases, model governance, monitoring, and support — typically a monthly retainer sized to your usage. It keeps performance high and compliance current as you expand. Request pricing.
The ROI: what you get back
Cost only matters against return. On the workflows we automate, operating costs typically fall by double digits — often around 20–35% — with full ROI in 12–24 months. Because a pilot targets a single high-volume, high-cost process first, it usually pays for itself well before the wider rollout is complete. We agree the target metric — hours saved, cost per ticket, faster cycle time — before we start, so the return is measured, not assumed.
Funding that can cover a large share
In Croatia, digital-transformation grants under NPOO (the National Recovery and Resilience Plan) and EU Digital Europe programmes can subsidise a substantial part of an AI project — in some calls up to around €100,000. Eligibility depends on company size, sector, and the active call, so treat this as "you may be eligible", not guaranteed. We can flag likely-fit funding during scoping and structure the project so it maps cleanly to grant requirements.
Get an exact quote
The fastest way to a real number is a short conversation about your systems and priorities. Book a free scoping call and we will come back with a fixed-price pilot proposal and an indicative implementation range — no obligation.