Strategic Journey

AI Architecture

Budget for an AI build has been approved. But no one internally has the combination of system-level architecture experience and independence from the vendor proposals on the table — and development is about to start without a blueprint.

Development has started on AI features with no architecture documentSprint reviews producing working features that do not integrate with each otherVendor-designed architecture where the same vendor will bill for the buildApproved budget and a 90-day delivery target but no technical blueprintRegulated entity deploying AI models with no governance scaffolding in the design

Phase 1 — Assess & Sequence

Optional

When: Skip if you've already completed an AI Roadmap engagement

Identify which AI opportunity to build first — scored against business impact, data readiness, and integration complexity.

AI Opportunity Assessment

A structured, workshop-driven engagement that identifies, scores, and prioritises AI opportunities across your business — and hands you a roadmap you can act on immediately.

3w roadmap

AI Opportunity Register
Feasibility Scorecard
Prioritisation Matrix
Business Case Summaries (Priority Opportunities)

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After: Top AI opportunity selected with business case. Sequencing defined for what follows.

Phase 2 — Design & Specify

Produce a build-ready architecture the development team can execute from day one — technology stack, data strategy, AI pipeline, integration patterns, team specification, and vendor evaluation criteria.

AI Solution Architecture & Design

Complete solution architecture for an identified AI opportunity — technology selection, integration design, data strategy, team specification, and governance framework. Build-ready output an engineering team can implement from day one.

3w design

Solution Architecture Document
Technology Selection Matrix
Integration Design
Data Strategy & Pipeline Design

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After: Build-ready architecture with stack, data strategy, AI pipeline, and team spec. Everything needed to start building without guesswork.

Phase 3 — Oversee & Govern

The same principal who designed the architecture stays engaged through the build — sprint reviews, quality gates, vendor evaluation, and drift detection.

Principal Architecture Oversight Retainer

Ongoing architecture governance and decision support for active transformation programs.

monthly oversight

Monthly Architecture Review
Decision Log
Risk Register Updates
Architecture Board Facilitation

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After: Every sprint reviewed. Architecture drift caught early. The same principal who designed the system stays accountable through delivery.

Outcome

Build-ready architecture delivered, team guided to first release.

This Journey Often Reveals...

Technical Delivery Assurance

Retainer client brings in vendors/SIs for implementation and needs independent oversight

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Related Journeys

First AI Build

A company needs its first AI use case in production — not a strategy deck, a working capability. There is no internal AI team, no data science function, and no prior AI initiative to build on. Every vendor wants to sell a 12-month programme. The pressure is to show proof of value before committing at that scale.

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Project Rescue

An AI initiative is behind schedule, over budget, or stuck in pilot — and nobody internally has the independence or the mandate to say whether it should be fixed, restructured, or killed.

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Second Opinion

A significant architecture decision or investment is on the table — new AI platform, vendor selection, build-vs-buy — and leadership wants independent validation before committing budget.

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Ready to start the AI Architecture journey?

Book a 30-minute discovery call. We will listen to your situation and confirm the right starting point — no commitment required.