AI Consulting for B2B: Selection, Cost, AI Visibility
AI consulting for B2B companies: what it delivers, what it costs, and how to find the right partner — including AI visibility consulting (GEO).
AI consulting: what the market offers
The AI consulting market is overheated. Every management consultancy suddenly has an “AI Practice Lead.” Quality varies enormously — from genuine experts to consultants who wrote their first ChatGPT prompt last week.
The 4 types of AI consulting
1. Strategy consulting (top-down)
What: Develop AI strategy, identify use cases, build a roadmap. Who: McKinsey, BCG, Deloitte, specialized boutiques. Cost: €50,000-500,000 per project. Output: A PowerPoint deck with recommendations. Problem: Often no implementation. Nice slides, no results.
2. Tool implementation (bottom-up)
What: Set up and integrate specific AI tools. Who: Freelancers, specialized agencies. Cost: €5,000-30,000 per project. Output: Working AI workflows. Problem: Often isolated solutions without an overall strategy.
3. AI training / enablement
What: Train the team in AI tools and prompting. Who: Trainers, academies, freelancers. Cost: €2,000-10,000 per workshop. Output: Team can use AI tools. Problem: Without processes and workflows, the knowledge evaporates.
4. GTM engineering (strategy + implementation)
What: Design AND build AI-powered revenue systems. Who: Specialized partners like CegTec. Cost: €2,500-7,000/month. Output: A working system that belongs to you. Advantage: Strategy and execution from a single partner, measurable KPIs.
Where AI has the biggest impact in B2B
| Area | AI lever | ROI timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| Outbound sales | Automatic research + personalization | 1-2 months |
| Content marketing | AI drafts + repurposing | 2-3 months |
| CRM automation | Auto-enrichment, scoring, reporting | 1 month |
| Meeting follow-up | Transcription + summary + follow-up | Immediate |
| Proposal creation | AI-generated proposals | 1 month |
| Customer service | AI chatbot + knowledge base | 2-3 months |
Recommendation: Start with the area that eats the most time and impacts revenue most directly. For most B2B companies, that’s outbound sales.
Red flags with AI consultants
- “AI will change everything” without concrete use cases for your business
- No AI usage of their own — the consultant barely uses AI tools themselves
- Strategy only, no implementation — you need someone who actually builds
- Vendor lock-in — only recommends tools they get commission from
- No measurable results with previous clients
- Overblown promises — “AI replaces 50% of your team in 3 months”
Green flags
- Shows their own AI workflows and tools
- Concrete ROI numbers from previous projects
- Starts with quick wins instead of a 6-month strategy project
- Builds systems that belong to you
- Understands your industry and your business model
- Is honest about the limits of AI
Conclusion
AI consulting pays off when it goes beyond PowerPoints. For B2B companies, the biggest lever isn’t AI strategy — it’s implementing concrete workflows that save time and generate revenue immediately. Look for a partner who can do both: understand where AI has impact AND actually build it.
Start your free trial · 4 weeks free, no credit card. Prefer to see it running first? Book a demo.
Common questions
What does an AI consultant actually do?
An AI consultant identifies where AI can be applied in your business, builds an implementation strategy, and supports execution. In a B2B context, the focus is usually on sales automation, content creation, CRM optimization, and process automation.
What does AI consulting cost?
Freelancers: €150-300/hour. Specialized consulting: €1,500-3,000/day. Strategy workshop: €3,000-10,000. Implementation project: €10,000-50,000. GTM engineering partner (consulting + implementation): €2,500-7,000/month.
Do I need AI consulting, or can I start on my own?
Start on your own for: using ChatGPT for emails, simple automations, content drafts. Consulting makes sense for: tool selection for complex stacks, CRM integration, custom workflows, data strategy, team enablement. Most companies need less strategy consulting and more hands-on implementation.
How do I find the right AI consultant?
Look for: implementation experience (not just PowerPoints), industry focus (B2B vs. B2C), tool expertise (which AI tools the consultant actually knows), and measurable results with previous clients. Avoid consultants who only talk about AI but never build anything.