How to choose an AI agency (without getting stuck in demos)
The wrong AI agency leaves you with slides and a stalled pilot. The right one ships systems your team uses weekly. Use this checklist before you sign.
1. Demand a production story, not a model list
Ask what they shipped to production in the last year — including integrations, failure modes, and who maintains it. An AI agency that only showcases ChatGPT wrappers is not ready for operational load.
2. Tie the engagement to a bottleneck KPI
Great AI services start with a metric: answer rate, cost-per-ticket, booking conversion, hours saved. If an agency cannot connect AI to a KPI, keep looking.
3. Prefer partners who can consult and build
Pure AI consultancy without delivery creates orphan roadmaps. Pure builders without discovery create shiny wrong things. GlitchDot combines AI consultancy and AI agency delivery for that reason — and you should look for the same pattern wherever you hire.
4. Inspect integration and ownership
Who owns the code, prompts, data flows, and vendor accounts? Can the system run if the agency relationship ends? Insist on clarity up front.
5. Red flags
- Guaranteed miracle ROI or ranking claims
- No discussion of evaluation, monitoring, or human handoff
- One-size-fits-all product forced onto every client
- Unwillingness to start with a scoped MVP
FAQ
Should I hire a local AI agency in Melbourne?
Local helps with timezone, context, and collaboration — but delivery quality matters more. GlitchDot is Melbourne-based and works with clients worldwide.
Related
Contact GlitchDot · Home · Melbourne, Australia