Service 06 · Fractional AI lead
A technology lead, without the full-time hire.
Ongoing, part-time leadership for AI and technology decisions: setting priorities, managing vendors and builds, keeping systems healthy, and helping your team adopt new tools.
- Who it's forCompanies without a tech leaderwho still need tech decisions made well
- What you getA named, part-time leadon a regular monthly cadence
- Works withYour team and vendorsincluding an outside IT provider
- PricingFixed monthly scopeQuoted after a free 30-minute call
An example month
What the rhythm can look like.
Illustrative only. The actual cadence, hours and priorities are agreed with you and written into the scope.
Week 1
- Priorities review with leadership
- Check on live systems
- Update the roadmap
Week 2
- Build and vendor work
- Review proposals and quotes
- Access and security check
Week 3
- Team office hours
- Training on new workflows
- Collect ideas and problems
Week 4
- Short written report
- What changed and what's next
- Decisions needed from you
What the role covers
The work a technology leader would do.
- Direction
Roadmap and priorities
A living plan for what to improve next, tied to business goals and reviewed regularly.
- Decisions
Vendors and tools
Evaluating software and AI vendors, reading the contracts' data terms, and avoiding overlap.
- Delivery
Oversight of builds
Scoping and supervising projects, whether we build them or another vendor does.
- Safety
Access and data basics
Who can see what, which data goes where, and making sure AI use follows your policy.
- People
Team enablement
Office hours, training refreshers and help for the people using the tools.
- Reporting
Clear updates
Short written updates for leadership: what changed, what it cost, and what's next.
An honest comparison
Fractional, or a full-time hire?
Fractional fits when…
- You need technology leadership but not 40 hours a week of it.
- You want experienced judgment before committing to a full-time salary.
- Your tech work comes in waves: a project, then maintenance.
- You want someone to coordinate outside vendors.
Hire full-time when…
- Technology is your core product and changes daily.
- You need someone on-site every day managing a technical team.
- The workload clearly fills a full-time role already.
FAQ
Questions we hear.
How is a fractional engagement priced?
As a fixed monthly scope, written into a quote after a free call. You'll know what's included before anything starts.
Is there a minimum commitment?
Terms, including any minimum and how to end the engagement, are set out in the quote so there are no surprises.
Can you work alongside our IT provider?
Yes. Infrastructure, devices and help-desk support usually stay with your IT provider. We focus on software, data, automation and AI, and coordinate with them.
What if we later hire a full-time lead?
That can be a good outcome. We'll hand over documentation and context so the new hire starts with a clear picture.
Insights
Further reading.
- Measuring AI ROI honestly Most AI ROI claims skip the baseline. Here's a simple method that holds up to scrutiny. Read the article
- How to choose an AI vendor or LLM provider Demos all look great. Data terms, real-world accuracy and exit options are where vendors differ. Read the article
- Where to start with AI in a mid-sized business Skip the strategy deck. Pick one workflow, measure it, and prove value in weeks. Read the article
Free 30-minute call
Find out where AI can help your business.
Tell us how your team works today. We'll tell you plainly where technology can save time, where it can't, and what a sensible first step would be.
Prefer the phone? Call (949) 691-0086