How to choose an AI consultant in Scotland
A practical framework for finding an AI consultant who can identify useful opportunities, manage risk and support implementation.
A useful AI consultant should help you make better decisions before recommending technology. The first question is not which model to use. It is which business problem is worth solving, what information the work depends on and how success will be judged.
Start with the business outcome
Ask candidates to explain how they would move from a broad ambition to a testable first workflow. Strong answers usually identify five things:
- The person who will use the system.
- The information the system receives.
- The decision or output it must produce.
- The risks and review controls.
- The measure used to compare it with the current process.
Look for implementation thinking
Strategy without delivery can become a document that nobody uses. A capable AI implementation consultant should be able to discuss data access, permissions, review steps, failure cases, adoption and maintenance in plain language.
Test whether the recommendation is proportionate
Not every problem needs generative AI. Rules, templates, search, deterministic logic or ordinary automation may be cheaper and more reliable. A consultant should be willing to recommend the simplest approach that can produce the required outcome.
| Question | What a strong answer demonstrates |
|---|---|
| What should we test first? | Prioritisation and commercial judgement |
| What could go wrong? | Risk awareness and practical controls |
| Who checks the output? | Clear accountability |
| How will we measure it? | Evidence rather than enthusiasm |
Ask what the first engagement will produce
A good first engagement might produce a prioritised opportunity map, a tested workflow, a practical training session, a prototype or an implementation plan. It should not rely on vague claims about transformation.
David Robertson provides private AI consultancy from £750 per day.