Most SA businesses approach AI the wrong way: vendor demos first, problem definition later. Three months and a few committed contracts in, the realisation lands that the AI doesn't actually solve the most painful problems and costs more than projected. The right starting move is the unglamorous one — a structured strategy engagement that produces a roadmap you can actually execute against.
Our 4-week AI strategy engagement is designed for SA mid-market businesses planning meaningful AI investment in the next 12 months. Output is a board-ready document with prioritised opportunities, ROI projections per use case, and a sequenced 12-month plan. Fixed fee. No vendor bias.
The 4-week structure
Week 1 — Discovery
Stakeholder interviews (8-12), system audit, current-state assessment. We understand how your business actually works.
Week 2 — Opportunity mapping
10-20 specific use cases identified and scored on impact, feasibility, and risk. Quick wins separated from strategic plays.
Week 3 — ROI & sequencing
Per-use-case ROI modelling, capability requirements, vendor/build options, dependencies between initiatives. Sequencing logic.
Week 4 — Roadmap & review
Final document, working session with leadership, agreed-upon next moves. Clear handoff.
What's in the final deliverable
- Executive summary. Top 3-5 recommendations in plain language. The thing your CEO will actually read.
- Current-state assessment. Honest picture of where you are — including what's already working that we shouldn't break.
- Opportunity portfolio. 8-15 use cases scored. Each with size estimate, complexity rating, and confidence level.
- Prioritised roadmap. 12-month sequenced plan. Months 1-3 quick wins, months 4-9 strategic builds, months 10-12 capability scaling.
- Capability requirements. What you need internally — skills, infrastructure, governance — to execute.
- Tool/vendor landscape. Concrete recommendations per use case. Pros, cons, ZAR pricing realities.
- ROI projections. Per use case, with conservative/realistic/optimistic scenarios. Sensitivity analysis on key assumptions.
- Risk register. POPIA, vendor lock-in, talent, model evolution, regulatory change.
Who this is for
- SA mid-market businesses (50-500 staff). Where AI investment will be material but not unbounded.
- Companies considering 2-5 simultaneous AI initiatives. Where prioritisation is the actual question.
- Boards/executives wanting a defensible plan. The roadmap is something the CEO can present and the CFO can budget against.
- Businesses burned by previous AI spend. Where the prior approach didn't deliver and a more disciplined plan is needed.
What it costs
Fixed fee: R35,000. 4-week engagement, all deliverables included. Travel within Cape Town/JHB at no extra charge; out-of-area engagements add expenses at cost.
What's not included: implementation. The strategy engagement is independent — implementation is separately quoted (by us or anyone else). No bundling, no kickbacks, no soft-pressure to use our implementation team.
How to start
30-min call to discuss your situation and confirm fit. Strategy engagements typically start within 2-3 weeks of agreement.
Email info@faautosolutions.com or use the contact form.