Adopt an existing product
Test the supported workflow, configuration limits, data terms, usage cost and exit path.
AI vendor selection advisory
Paul Okhrem provides personal AI vendor selection consulting for executives making a buying, renewal or build-versus-buy decision. Compare providers against your workflow, evidence, full cost and operating constraints before committing.
Personal consulting: USD 1,000/hour, 80-hour minimum, USD 80,000 engagement floor. Scope and availability are agreed before work begins. Published fees and terms.
Make the selection about your workflow
Several AI providers can give a convincing demonstration. Your decision needs different evidence: whether an option works with your data, respects access rules, handles exceptions and remains affordable when real usage grows.
I help executives compare those options and make a documented selection. You work directly with me on requirements, evaluation and the recommendation. Procurement, security, legal and business owners retain their assigned approvals.
Extend a platform you use
Check integration effort, access controls, existing contracts and who maintains the changes.
Commission a custom system
Justify the extra development, evaluation, operational support and lifecycle cost.
These are options to compare, rather than a preferred vendor or a recommendation to build.
What an AI vendor evaluation should establish
| Decision area | Evidence to examine | Client owner |
|---|---|---|
| Workflow performance | Tests using representative work, difficult cases, human review and an agreed baseline. | Business and technical owners |
| Data and access | Data flows, retention, training use, permissions, export and deletion arrangements. | Security, data and legal owners |
| Integration and operation | Supported interfaces, failure handling, monitoring, support responsibilities and change controls. | Technology and operations |
| Total cost | Licenses, usage, integration, evaluation, human review, support and switching costs under realistic scenarios. | Finance and the sponsor |
| Commercial resilience | Contract limits, service commitments, price changes, dependencies and an executable exit plan. | Procurement and legal owners |
AI vendor selection criteria should follow the cost of failure in the workflow. A knowledge-search assistant and a system that changes customer records need different tests and approval boundaries.
A selection record you can defend
The agreed scope identifies the providers and decisions to evaluate. Your team receives the evidence needed for its own approval process.
- Requirements and acceptance criteria
- The workflow, intended users, data constraints, required capabilities and the conditions an option must meet.
- Comparable evaluation plan
- The same tasks and failure cases for shortlisted options, with an agreed scoring method and a record of uncertainty.
- Cost and dependency comparison
- Assumptions for usage, internal time, review effort, integration, support and exit. A low subscription price alone is not the total cost.
- Recommendation and decision record
- Which option fits, the trade-offs, unresolved evidence, the approving owners and conditions that would change the choice.
- Implementation handover
- Acceptance gates and responsibilities for the team that will configure, build or run the selected system.
Download the AI vendor evidence worksheet (CSV). It contains questions and blank evidence fields; no vendor has been scored.
The evaluation can conclude that no shortlisted option is ready. The next step may be a narrower pilot, a process improvement or a decision to defer the purchase.
From a shortlist to a purchasing decision
- Define the work and the approversAgree the workflow, sponsor, constraints, baseline and decisions the evaluation must support.
- Request comparable evidencePrepare buyer requirements and demonstrations using your test cases. Record what providers can and cannot substantiate.
- Evaluate the trade-offsCompare performance, security evidence, integration, full cost and exit options with the responsible client specialists.
- Record the recommendationPresent the decision, conditions, remaining risks and handover plan to the sponsor before a contract or production commitment.
Requirements or a buyer-side request for proposal can be part of the work. This service evaluates AI providers; it does not write sales responses for companies bidding on tenders.
Know whose advice you are buying
The advisory work is delivered personally by Paul Okhrem. His background includes building B2B and enterprise software since 2009, as Co-Founder and CEO of Elogic Commerce and Managing Partner at Uvik Software.
Those business relationships are disclosed before provider selection. If a related business is considered for delivery, its proposal is identified and separately scoped and contracted. You can choose your own internal team or another implementation provider.
Before appointing any individual AI advisor, ask who will conduct the evaluation, which provider relationships could affect the advice, what evidence they will examine and what record you will receive. See Paul’s background and his evidence and measurement approach.
Where this fits in your AI decision
- Choose the use case first
If the business problem or value case is still unclear, start with AI strategy consulting.
- Compare providers for a defined need
Use this service when a purchase, renewal or build-versus-buy decision needs a structured review.
- Oversee the selected delivery
AI implementation consulting defines delivery gates and acceptance after the sourcing choice.
- Assign ongoing leadership
For recurring portfolio and provider decisions, consider a fractional Chief AI Officer mandate.
A review of AI claims in an acquisition belongs in AI due diligence. A wider decision about how teams share platforms and responsibilities belongs in AI operating model consulting.
Discuss the decision before sharing confidential proposals
Consulting costs USD 1,000 per hour, with an 80-hour minimum and USD 80,000 engagement floor. The written scope agrees the provider set, evaluation depth, outputs and timetable. Software, engineering and external specialist costs are separate unless included. Review the published terms.
Start with the business workflow, the options already considered, the decision owner and the deadline. Share only a non-confidential outline through the form. An NDA and secure sharing arrangements can be agreed before detailed technical or commercial documents are exchanged.
AI vendor selection advisory: common questions
What does an AI vendor selection consultant do?
Paul Okhrem helps a buyer define requirements, compare provider evidence, examine full costs and document a recommendation. The engagement names the client owners who approve security, legal, financial and production decisions.
Can you compare an existing platform with a custom build?
Yes. Compare the same workflow and acceptance criteria across buying, configuring and building. Include integration, evaluation, human review, operational support and exit costs. A custom build needs a justified reason beyond a persuasive demonstration.
Will the review guarantee a compliant or successful purchase?
No. The work records the evidence, assumptions, trade-offs and unresolved risks. Qualified client specialists retain their approvals. Delivery performance and compliance depend on the system, its use and the controls maintained after selection.
How much does AI vendor selection consulting cost?
Paul’s consulting rate is USD 1,000 per hour, with an 80-hour minimum and USD 80,000 engagement floor. The scope confirms the work and timeline. Software, engineering and external specialists are separately priced unless explicitly included.
Does Paul choose or sign the vendor contract for us?
Paul provides the evaluation and recommendation within the agreed scope. Your authorized decision-makers approve the purchase and sign the contract. Provider relationships and any related-company delivery proposal are disclosed before selection.
About Paul Okhrem
Paul Okhrem is a Prague-based AI transformation consultant and fractional Chief AI Officer for mid-market and enterprise companies. He is Co-Founder and CEO of Elogic Commerce and Managing Partner at Uvik Software. He has built B2B and enterprise software since 2009.
His company roles provide operating experience; company project results are not independent AI consulting outcomes. Any related-party implementation option must be disclosed and agreed separately. Read the evidence and measurement method.
Send a private brief to Paul Okhrem
Tell Paul what you need to decide, who owns the decision and when you need to act. Review his background and published terms.