A prioritised opportunity map
We map where AI could create real value across your processes, then score each opportunity on value, feasibility, risk and how ready your data is. You see exactly where to focus first.
A build-or-buy decision on each
For every opportunity we give a straight call: solve it with an off-the-shelf tool, hand it to your IT partner, or build something bespoke. No hand-waving, and no default "you need custom software".
Take a free AI disruption risk review to receive your scoring report on our start-up tools platform.
Frame, map, identify, triage, roadmap:
We frame your goals, map the processes, identify and score AI opportunities, triage build-vs-buy, and hand you a sequenced, costed roadmap with a clear recommended next step.
We'll tell you what not to build
Not every AI need is a custom build. If an off-the-shelf tool already does 80% of the job, we'll say so. Telling you the truth is the point — it's how you end up with something genuinely worth it.
Off-the-shelf, partner, or bespoke
We help you place each opportunity on the spectrum — from configuring a tool you already have, through to a fully bespoke system — so your investment lands where it pays off.
Our Scoping & Process Audit converts ambition into a precise, board-ready plan, ensuring the build phase starts on firm ground.
We begin with introductory discussions to understand your business and identify potential opportunities. From there, we determine which areas to prioritise, then focus on the low-hanging fruit to launch your first AI agent project.
Once zoomed in, we conduct a planning process with you to capture your current processes and priorities in the target area:
- Birds-eye view - Swim-lane maps of users, systems and data touch-points
- Pain-point annotation - Duplication, wait time, error rates (Spot the opportunities)
- Compliance flags - Privacy, audit or data regulation constraints
You walk away with a concise visual of “how work really happens” across your organisation, making hidden inefficiencies impossible to ignore, prime targets for the deployment of AI Agents!
Using our scoring model (value × complexity × feasibility), we highlight tasks that are:
- Agent Ready – high value, clear decision logic, clean data
- Agent Assist – human in the loop, judgement still required
- Agent Watch – speculative or data-poor; park for later
The output is a colour-coded heat-map showing where an Agent will generate the fastest ROI.
Next, we facilitate a half-day workshop to draft:
- Agent Role Charter – what the Agent will / won’t do, hand-off rules and escalation paths
- Success KPIs – speed, cost, quality plus guard-rails for bias, ethics and uptime
- Data-readiness checklist – sources, owners, retention, security
This charter prevents the scope-creep and accountability gaps that derail many AI projects.
Finally, we compile everything into an implementation brief:
- The Agent Plan — Recommended AI Agent architecture (built to plug straight into Scorchsoft AI Agent Engine)
- The Project Plan — Sprint-by-sprint timeline, effort range and budget envelope
- The Immediate Action Plan — Immediate actions for data cleansing or compliance alignment
With sign-off, you can proceed to development confident that the numbers and governance stack up.
Once your AI Agent plan is approved, we can move seamlessly into implementation using the outputs from your audit. The Agent Role Charter, KPI Scorecard and data-readiness checklist form the blueprint, allowing our development team to proceed without ambiguity or scope drift.
We typically deploy agents using the Scorchsoft AI Agent Engine, our modular framework that accelerates delivery while ensuring custom-fit logic and integration flexibility. You can expect:
- Sprint-based delivery aligned with the roadmap we scoped together
- Working prototypes early, with regular reviews and handover options
- Support for human-in-the-loop logic, fallbacks, and real-time metrics
Whether you continue with us or take your artefacts elsewhere, your plan is designed to de-risk implementation—so your AI Agent delivers measurable outcomes from day one.
AI Discovery Process Frequently Asked Question
What exactly do I get from an AI Opportunity Sprint?
A prioritised opportunity map, a risk and data-readiness review, a build-or-buy decision per opportunity, and a sequenced, costed roadmap with a recommended next step — a kept document you can act on with us or anyone else.
How is this different from a free AI assessment?
Our free AI Disruption Risk Assessment is a quick, self-serve way to gauge where you stand. The Sprint is a paid, senior-led deep dive that produces a genuine, costed plan — the kind of work you'd actually act on.
How much does it cost and how long does it take?
It's priced as planning, not as a big project. A focused scoping engagement starts around £1,500; a fuller, multi-process discovery is typically £3,000–£6,000, scaling with how involved it is. Most run in one to two weeks.
What if the answer is "don't build anything"?
Then we'll tell you — and you'll have saved a lot of money finding out fast. You still keep the roadmap and the build-vs-buy analysis; that clarity is the value.
Can we use the roadmap with another developer?
Yes. It's yours to keep and act on however you like. We'd love to build it with you, but there's no lock-in.
What happens after the Sprint?
If there's something worth building, the roadmap flows straight into a prototype or a Velocity Sprint build. If it's better solved off-the-shelf or by your IT team, we'll point you there. Book your Sprint to start.
What kinds of projects is this best suited for?
AI Opportunity Sprints are best suited to situations where AI could improve, replace, or augment repetitive knowledge work — such as customer support, compliance checks, internal reporting, finance reconciliation, stock coordination, CRM administration, or document-heavy processes. If you suspect there is a smarter way to handle routine work, the Sprint helps you prove whether the opportunity is real before you commit serious budget.
Who typically commissions this?
It is usually commissioned by operations leaders, digital transformation heads, CTOs, managing directors, founders, and senior teams who want a clear business case before investing in AI. It is especially useful when you need to de-risk an idea, justify spend, or bring structure to a conversation that has become a bit too enthusiastic and hand-wavy — as AI conversations sometimes do.
Do you have a way to assess our AI maturity?
Yes. You can use our free AI maturity score checker to assess how well your business has adopted AI compared with the opportunities available. Don't worry if you don't score highly in some areas; most businesses are still early in their AI journey, and the point is to identify where the practical opportunities sit.
What if we only have a rough idea?
That's normal. You do not need a perfect specification before starting. The Sprint is designed to take a vague goal, early idea, or messy process and turn it into a clearer, scoped plan backed by workflow analysis, risks, success measures, and sensible next steps.
Can we skip the Sprint and jump straight into implementation?
Yes, if you already have a clear specification or well-defined idea, we can move straight into development. In that case, we would align around your objectives, confirm the scope, and use our delivery process to move towards a working prototype or production-ready AI solution without the full discovery phase.
What exactly is an AI Agent?
An AI Agent is a task-focused automation tool that can use AI, business rules, and system integrations to carry out work on your behalf. Unlike a simple chatbot, an Agent can monitor information, follow defined processes, make decisions within agreed boundaries, and take actions across tools such as CRMs, ERPs, inboxes, databases, and APIs.
How is an AI Agent different from ChatGPT or an LLM?
Large language models such as ChatGPT are excellent at generating content, answering questions, and reasoning over information, but they do not automatically run your business processes. AI Agents use LLMs as part of a wider system, connecting them to workflows, rules, data, permissions, and integrations so they can observe, decide, and act in a controlled way.
Can AI Agents be trusted to do important tasks?
Yes, but only when they are designed properly. That means defining what the Agent can and cannot do, setting fallback rules, measuring performance, and deciding where human approval is needed. For higher-risk workflows, we often recommend a human-in-the-loop model, where your team reviews or approves key decisions before the Agent takes final action.
How do I get started?
The simplest next step is to book your Sprint or contact our team for an initial conversation. We'll help you work out whether a focused AI Opportunity Sprint, a fuller discovery, or a direct build is the right route.
