01
How standardised the process is
A consistent process is quick to automate. If every case has an exception, the challenge is deciding how to handle them. This often affects the quote more than any technical factor.
Pricing
What drives the cost of a project.
Two apparently similar automations can cost very different amounts. This page explains the factors rather than offering an unrealistic price list, so you enter the conversation informed.
Six factors affect the quote
In order of actual impact. The first factor matters more than the other five combined.
02
How many systems need connecting
Connecting a business management system with modern APIs costs a fraction of connecting closed software or a system on an ageing server. Before quoting, we check what your systems actually support to avoid surprises halfway through the project.
03
The condition of your data
Organised, consistent information lets automation begin quickly. If it is scattered across Excel files, PDFs and inboxes, preparation needs to be included in the quote. Organising it creates value independently of AI.
04
How often the process repeats
A process that runs a hundred times a day pays off the automation in a few weeks. One that spins twice a month almost never. On these cases we say it openly: it is better to simplify the process, not automate it.
05
Which data is processed
Personal, health or professionally confidential data affects where the model runs, retention periods and access permissions. Those requirements shape the architecture and development time.
06
What is needed after launch
Automation needs ongoing care as connected systems change, volumes grow and models are updated. Support is a separate cost item, agreed before the project starts.
Indicative costs
Where your project fits.
These are indicative Italian market ranges for this type of project. They help assess whether the likely cost fits your budget before investing time in a call.
| Service | Indicative cost | What it includes | What affects the price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automation of a process | 1.500 – 8.000 € | Mapping, development, deployment and training for one workflow | The number of systems to connect and exceptions the process must handle |
| Custom AI agent | 3.000 – 15.000 € | An agent for email, documents or customer support, integrated with your tools | Integrations with business management software or CRM: each can have a significant impact on cost |
| AI knowledge base (RAG) | 6.000 – 25.000 € | Document indexing, source-cited answers and permissions | Document volume and formats, permission granularity and sensitive data |
| Custom software or business management system | 8.000 – 20.000 € | Analysis, development, integrations and launch of a dedicated tool | Number of modules and users, integrations with existing systems |
| Company website | 2.500 – 8.000 € | Design, development, content and basic SEO setup | The number of pages, content to produce and custom features |
| E-commerce | 3.000 – 15.000 € | Store, catalogue, payments, shipping and integration with your business management software | Number of products, languages and inventory synchronisation |
| PWA or web app | 5.000 – 25.000 € | Installable application with login, data and offline operation | Role complexity, integrations, amount of application logic |
| Monthly support | from €300/month | Monitoring active automations, fixes and minor improvements | How many automations need monitoring and how critical they are to operations |
Amounts exclude VAT. Third-party usage costs for AI models, message sending and hosting remain in your name and are excluded. You see development and infrastructure costs separately, without hidden licence markups.
How the price is calculated
01Free
Initial assessment
A free conversation to understand process frequency, time spent and sources of errors, and decide whether it makes sense to continue.
02Quoted separately, then deducted from the project price
Audit and estimate
We map the real workflow and assess existing systems' integration options. The estimate defines scope, inclusions, exclusions and the required time.
03Fixed price
A prototype for one process
We start with the process offering the quickest return and deploy it at a pre-agreed fixed price. If the scope stays the same, the quote stays the same.
04Subscription or usage-based pricing
Expansion and ongoing support
The first process's results inform expansion. Ongoing support is agreed separately, according to how critical the automation is to operations.
What is always included
- Process mapping and feasibility checks on your systems
- Development, testing and deployment of the automation
- Documentation of what it does, where it acts and how to switch it off
- Training for people who will use it every day
- Measurement before and after, with comparable numbers
What is not included
- Third-party licences and usage charges for AI models, message sending and storage remain in your name
- Work on your systems that requires your current provider
- Rewriting business processes that need to be redesigned before being automated
We separate these cost items because unclear assumptions at the start can become disagreements later.
Frequently asked questions
The same automation can cost very different amounts depending on the context. Reading supplier invoices falls at the lower end when documents arrive in a consistent format from a business system with APIs. It falls at the higher end when scanned PDFs arrive from twenty different suppliers. A narrow range might look more reassuring, but would be less honest. We explain the factors so you can see where your project fits before speaking to us.
Look at the six factors above and answer for your own situation: is the process always the same, or full of exceptions? Are the systems to connect modern or closed? Is the data organised? How often does it repeat? If the answers are “standardised, open systems, organised data, many times a day”, you are at the lower end of the range. If they are the opposite, it is worth discussing them before setting expectations.
Yes. It is a conversation to assess the process rather than a sales presentation. If it is unsuitable, we say so. A project without measurable results is a problem for both sides.
The first-process prototype has a pre-agreed fixed price. If scope changes, we update the written agreement instead of quietly increasing the bill. Ongoing support and improvements are billed through a recurring fee or usage.
For a first trial we reason in weeks, not months: the goal is to have something in production early and measure it, not deliver a three-year plan. The duration depends mainly on how many integrations are needed and how accessible the existing systems are.
Sometimes simplifying the process is more useful, less costly and more durable than adding AI. We would rather decline a project than sell one that will not produce results.
Do you want to know which process to start from? See how the audit works.
Continue
Initial assessment
Half an hour to see whether your process is suitable.
We review your process numbers together. If automation is not worthwhile, we tell you.