Measurable efficiency, safer adoption, and better decisions — with governance built in.
No hype. No supplier pantomime.
In the call we’ll confirm: (1) fit, (2) scope, (3) whether you have enough evidence to score properly.
If you can’t show evidence, I’ll tell you what to start collecting before spending money on AI.
Not for organisations looking for a quick chatbot with no governance, or expecting AI to fix broken processes without leadership involvement.
Is this you?
- Too much repetitive administrative work across email, documents, and spreadsheets
- Processes are inconsistent and live in people’s heads
- Reporting and documentation take far too long
- People want to use AI but worry about doing it wrong
- You need savings you can prove — not AI experiments you can’t defend
What changes
- Reduced admin workload in high-volume workflows
- Faster cycle times for drafting, triage, approvals, and handoffs
- Clear “permission rules” for safe AI use (what’s allowed, what isn’t)
- A prioritised shortlist tied to measurable KPIs
- Governance: audit trail, decision rights, and human sign-off points
AI Readiness Rapid Diagnostic
Total fee: £2,500*
*Prices exclude VAT, which shall be charged at the prevailing rate if applicable.
Delivery window: delivered within 10 working days (fixed fee, not day-rate)
What you’ll receive (fixed outputs):
A fixed-scope, evidence-led assessment that gives you a readiness score, a prioritised shortlist of AI opportunities, and clear guardrails for safe adoption.
- Readiness scorecard across Leadership / Process / Data / Governance / Capability
- Top 5 opportunities ranked by value / effort / risk (with brief rationale)
- AI Permission rules (what’s allowed, what isn’t) + top risks and mitigations
- A practical “do next” plan for the next 30 days
- A concise PDF pack (5–7 pages) you can use internally
What’s included (fixed scope)
- 2 interviews (60–75 mins leadership + 60 mins ops/process)
- Review of up to 10 artefacts (templates, reports, SOPs, comms, screenshots)
- 45-minute call with recommendations
What we need from you
Two named stakeholders and a small sample of current artefacts (anonymised if needed).
Not included: detailed process mapping across departments, vendor selection, or build/implementation work. Implementation is intentionally separate. If you want to go deeper, we’ll propose a Strategy Sprint after the diagnostic.
If you want help acting on the findings
- Workshop (half-day): align leaders, refine use-cases, set AI permission rules
- Strategy Sprint (2–3 weeks): roadmap + business case + pilot specification
- Advisory Retainer (monthly): keep delivery measurable and governed
You can stop after the Rapid Diagnostic and still have a usable plan.
Applied in these contexts
AI for SMEs (general)
- Admin and reporting automation
- Standardise high-volume workflows (email, docs, requests)
- Safe-use patterns for staff
AI for Manufacturing Flow and Traceability
- Faster quoting and more consistent customer comms
- Stronger document discipline (SOPs, job packs, approvals, audit trail)
- KPIs tied to OTIF / lead time / NCR cycle time
AI for Healthcare
- Reduce document and inbox burden with safe patterns
- Clear boundaries for sensitive data and human sign-off
- Governance-first adoption to avoid compliance pain
Same method. Different constraints.
About
Utilising practical AI knowledge that has been tried and tested since 2003, Cognicity AI helps SMEs adopt AI in a way that produces measurable efficiency while staying safe, governed, and auditable.
Cognicity AI is an approved provider for the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority(SYMCA) Skills Bank.
Recent work includes AI workshops, trustee and governance AI development sessions, proof of concept builds and advisory support for SMEs.
Our governance-first approach means: clear “permission rules”, human sign-off points, and practical risk controls are embedded in all engagements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you build the AI tools?
We focus on readiness, governance, and roadmaps. We can help you explore tools if you want to develop your own proof-of-concept. If build work is needed, we can specify it and support delivery with your team or partners.
Will we need new systems?
Often not. Many wins come from improving how work and information flow through what you already use.
How much time will this take from us?
Typically two interviews plus access to a small set of sample artefacts (anonymised if needed).
How do you handle data security and risk?
Governance is built in: AI permission rules, audit trails, human sign-off points, and a risk register with mitigations. NDA available on request. No client data is used to train models.
How do you measure success?
We agree 2–4 KPIs upfront (hours saved, cycle time, response time, error rate, risk reduction).
What does the price include?
Two interviews, review of up to 10 artefacts, a readiness scorecard, top 5 opportunities ranked by value/effort/risk, permission rules + risk mitigations, a 30-day action plan, and a readout call. It’s fixed scope and delivered within 10 working days.
Ready to make AI adoption practical (and defensible)?
Book a 20-minute call.
If it’s not a fit, we’ll tell you plainly.