Straight answers about AI adoption, our approach, and working with Starlene Consulting.
How do mid-market companies get started with AI?
Most start with an AI Readiness Assessment: a vendor-agnostic audit of your tools, data, workflows, and team capabilities that produces a prioritized roadmap. It tells you where AI will actually move the needle — and where it won't — before you spend on any platform or tooling.
How much does an AI readiness assessment cost?
AI Readiness Assessment & Strategy engagements typically range from $10,000 to $25,000 depending on the size and complexity of your organization. Workforce enablement, implementation, and ongoing advisory are priced separately — see the Services page for the full breakdown.
What does "vendor-agnostic" actually mean?
We have no platform allegiances. We evaluate Microsoft, Google, open-source, and emerging tools based solely on what fits your business — not on referral fees or partner quotas. Our only loyalty is to what works for you.
Can you work with our existing tools and Microsoft stack?
Yes. We design solutions around the tools you already own — including the Microsoft Power Platform (Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate, Copilot Studio) — rather than forcing a rip-and-replace. The goal is to get more value from your current stack first.
Do we need technical expertise on our team to work with you?
No. We work with businesses at all levels of technical maturity. Our team handles the technical complexity while keeping you informed with clear, jargon-free communication. We also provide training to help build your internal capabilities over time.
What industries do you work with?
We work with mid-market companies (typically 50–250 employees, up to 1,000) across various industries including professional services, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, financial services, and non-profits. Our approach is tailored to your specific industry context and regulatory requirements.
Are you tied to any specific AI vendor or platform?
No. We're completely vendor-agnostic. We evaluate Microsoft, Google, open-source, and every other option based solely on what's the best fit for your business. Our only loyalty is to what works for you.
What if AI isn't the right solution for our problem?
We'll tell you. Our assessment phase is designed to identify whether AI is genuinely the best approach for your challenges. If simpler solutions would serve you better, we'll recommend those instead. Our goal is your success, not selling AI for its own sake.
How do you measure success?
We define success metrics together during the initial assessment phase, based on your specific business goals. These might include efficiency gains, cost savings, employee adoption rates, or other KPIs relevant to your use case. We track and report on these throughout our engagement.