What decides what an AI chatbot or automation costs?
The cost of an AI chatbot or automation mostly follows what it must know, which tools and channels it has to work with, how much a person reviews, how heavily it is used and who keeps it running. A quote that gives a number without saying what it assumes about these is hard to compare. This answer gives no figures. Ascent Vision builds these systems and does not publish prices, so read it with that in mind.
What it has to know
A chatbot or automation is only as good as the information behind it. Clear, current services, hours, areas and policies are a smaller job than answers scattered across old emails and an out-of-date price list. Gathering and approving that information is part of the cost, and much of that work often falls to the owner. The related answer on stopping an AI assistant from making things up describes why approved information matters.
Tools, channels and review
Each tool it must read from or write to, such as a calendar, a customer list or invoicing, adds work. The related answer on what decides the cost of custom software covers connections, data and testing in general, and the related answer on how an AI system connects to your tools covers permissions. What is particular here is channels. A website chat, texts and phone calls are each their own piece of work, with their own wording and testing, and texts go out only with the person's consent.
Review is a cost either way: a person's time every week, or a more carefully tested system that may need less of it. The related answer on whether a person should approve what an AI system sends covers when review can be relaxed.
Usage, subscriptions and upkeep
- Usage. Some AI services can charge by how much they are used, for example by messages, calls or minutes, so a busy season can change a bill. Ask what counts as a unit, and whether a limit or an alert can be set.
- Other subscriptions. It may rely on paid services for the AI itself, a phone number or hosting. Ask who pays each one and whether any quote includes them.
- Testing and upkeep. Both carry on after launch and belong in the cost. The related answer on what to ask before hiring someone to build AI covers who tests it, who maintains it and who holds the accounts.
What to ask a seller to itemize
- Setup work and ongoing work, shown apart.
- What usage is included and what happens above it.
- Which channels and which tools are in the scope.
- How much testing and review is included, and who does it.
- Which subscriptions are covered and which you pay directly.
- What you keep, and what you can take with you, if you leave.
- What the quote leaves out.
Related answers
- What decides how much custom software costs, and why do projects run over?
- How does an AI system connect to the tools you already use?
- Should a person approve what an AI system sends to customers?
- What should you ask before hiring someone to build AI for your business?
- How do you stop an AI assistant from making things up?
AI assistants and chatbots
A good assistant answers the question a customer asks at nine at night, in your words, from your information, and brings in a person when it should. We build that, and we test it on your real questions before a customer sees it.