3 Models for Outsourcing Your AI Function (And Which One Fits You Best)

Outsourcing the AI function in an SMB doesn't mean the same thing for everyone. Depending on your company's maturity, project volume, and medium-term objective, there are three distinct models. Each has its advantages, limitations, and the right budget.

Model 1: Complete outsourcing

You entrust the entire AI function to an external expert or firm. They steer the roadmap, deploy agents, train teams, track costs, and report to leadership.

For whom: SMBs with no competent internal AI resource, or those that want to focus on their core business without adding a hire.

Budget: starting at €990 excl. VAT per month for one day, up to €7,500 for ten days. No recruitment cost, no social charges.

Advantage: fast start, no dependency on an internal profile, cross-sector expertise.

Limitation: the company remains dependent on the external expert until it builds internal capability. If the expert leaves, the AI function stops.

Our format: AI French Touch's Externalized AI Direction matches this model exactly. An expert who comes to work in your team one to ten days a month, with concrete deliverables at every intervention.

Model 2: Hybrid model

The external expert structures governance, defines the roadmap, and supports one or more internal referents to build their autonomy. The objective is skills transfer.

For whom: SMBs that already have a technical profile internally (CTO, IT manager, developer) and want to build AI autonomy.

Budget: similar to complete outsourcing at startup (1-3 days/month), then progressive decrease as the internal person takes over.

Advantage: the company builds lasting internal capability. The external expert brings methodology and fresh perspective; the internal person brings business knowledge.

Limitation: the internal referent must have the time and willingness to upskill. If they're already overloaded, the transfer doesn't happen.

Our format: this model works when a client already has a technical profile we can train. We go from 3-4 days/month at startup to 1 day/month once autonomy is achieved.

Model 3: Transition management

An AI expert intervenes on a temporary mission (three to six months) to launch first projects, then hands over to a future internal lead.

For whom: SMBs planning to hire an internal AI lead but needing to structure the function before that hire.

Budget: 2-5 days/month for the mission duration. Total cost: €6,000 to €35,000 depending on length.

Advantage: the expert prepares the ground: diagnostic, first use cases, governance, documentation. The future hire arrives with a prepared landscape.

Limitation: timing is critical. If recruitment takes longer than expected, you need to keep the expert in place, increasing the budget.

Our format: we adapt duration and intensity to your recruitment timeline. The same objective: that one day you can do without us.

How to choose

Three criteria determine the right model:

Your AI maturity. No internal resource → complete model. Existing technical profile → hybrid model. Upcoming recruitment → transition management.

Your objective. Solve a problem now → complete model. Build internal capability → hybrid model. Prepare a recruitment → transition management.

Your annual budget. The complete model costs between €12,000 and €90,000 per year. The hybrid model decreases as the internal person upskills. Transition management is a one-time investment of €6,000 to €35,000.

Errors to avoid

Choosing the cheapest model without looking at maturity. The hybrid model is cheaper long-term, but useless if nobody internal can take over.

Trying to do everything at once. Start with a diagnostic, not a massive deployment. The first agent in production within 30 days is the best feasibility test.

Neglecting skills transfer. Even in the complete model, document decisions and configurations. If the expert leaves tomorrow, the company must be able to continue.