AI consulting vs a software house: which to hire first?
One answers "where does AI pay off in my company?"; the other "how do we build what was already decided?". Hiring in the wrong order is the most common way to burn budget.
If your company wants to use AI but does not yet know where it pays off, hiring a software house to "build something" is usually expensive and premature. AI consulting with an ROI diagnosis answers the prior question: where to invest first, and why.
In practice, the two approaches chain together: diagnosis first, execution second. The expensive mistake is skipping the first step and building the wrong thing with precision.
| AI consulting | Software house | |
|---|---|---|
| Question it answers | Where does AI pay off in my company? | How to build what was already decided? |
| Deliverable | Diagnosis, roadmap and a prioritized ROI case | Software built to spec |
| Best moment | Before investing, when scope is uncertain | After scope and ROI are clear |
| Main risk | Low: it defines before you spend | Building the wrong thing precisely |
| Upfront cost | Lower and one-off | Higher, full project |
| Outcome | Clarity and priority | A shipped product |
Choose AI consulting when
- You do not know where to start with AI
- You need to justify the investment with a number
- You have processes but do not know which to automate
- You want a roadmap before hiring development
Choose a software house when
- You already know exactly what to build and why
- You have defined scope and budget
- The problem is execution, not strategy
It is not "one or the other", it is the right order. Reche's ROI diagnosis is one-off and credited to the project: you find out where AI pays off before spending, and only build what the diagnosis proves is worth it. That way you neither pay twice nor build in the dark.
Frequently asked questions
Does AI consulting replace the software house?
No. Consulting answers the prior question — where to invest and with what expected return — and then guides the execution, which can be done by the software factory itself.
How much does an AI diagnosis cost?
It depends on scope. At Reche the diagnosis is one-off and credited to the project if you move into execution, so the amount is not lost.
What if I already know what I want to build?
Then going straight to development makes sense. The diagnosis is for those who still have uncertainty about scope, priority or return.
Find out where AI pays off in your company
The ROI diagnosis defines scope, priority and expected return. Credited to the project if you move forward.