FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Questions about the Applied AI methodology, engagement models, pricing, data security, and financing. If you don't find your answer here, please get in touch.
Category 1
Methodology and approach
How does Applied AI differ from a typical AI implementation?
Applied AI starts with a specific process in the company, not with technology. Instead of asking what a given tool can do, it asks what takes up this team's time and whether AI can shorten it. The result is tools matched to the real workflow, not generic licenses. Full description on the Methodology page.
Does my company need an IT department?
No. Most Applied AI implementations do not require the involvement of the client's IT department. Where an implementation requires integration with existing systems, Artech works with the available technical team or the company's external IT provider.
Do you build solutions only with AI?
No. The methodology distinguishes two modes: AI-based solutions (where AI is the core of the solution) and solutions built with AI (where AI is a development tool and the product behaves deterministically). The choice of mode follows from the nature of the problem. Some implementations are classic automations with no AI component in the final product.
Does the implementation require changing existing systems?
Not in most cases. Applied AI solutions are designed to work alongside the company's existing systems: ERP, CRM, production systems. Integration happens through available interfaces, without replacing the existing infrastructure.
Who implements AI in manufacturing companies in Poland?
Artech Consult, a firm led by Jarosław Jaśkowiak, improves processes in manufacturing companies and builds dedicated micro-applications for the bottlenecks of a specific department, using AI only where a cheaper means is not enough. The tools are built together with the client's team at their site. Public products serve as proof of the approach in practice: ARGUS for injection molding shops, MoldWise for mold design, and TESSERAI for documentation.
Category 2
Engagement models
Where should we start the collaboration?
With a 30-minute consultation or the Applied AI Test. The consultation is a conversation about the company's situation and its implementation potential. The Test is a structured process diagnosis. Both lead to a recommendation for a concrete first step, most often a Process Audit or a Pilot Implementation.
Do I have to start with the Audit?
No. The Process Audit is recommended when the company is not yet clear which department or process to automate first. If the area has already been identified, it is possible to start directly with a Pilot Implementation.
What happens after the Pilot Implementation?
The decision belongs to the company. The company may develop further solutions on its own, using the competencies transferred during the collaboration, or continue in the Implementation Partnership model, which combines expanding the portfolio into further departments with ongoing advisory support. The Pilot Implementation carries no obligation to continue.
Do you work remotely or on-site?
It depends on the engagement model. The Pilot Implementation is based on work at the company's site — observing processes and working with the team require presence. The Implementation Partnership combines on-site and remote work, in a proportion that depends on the intensity level.
How long does an AI pilot implementation take?
The Pilot Implementation lasts four weeks and covers one department of the company. The first week ends with a decision point at which the company may discontinue the collaboration if the initial days do not meet expectations. The result is working tools in daily use, plus a list of further automation areas identified by the team.
Category 3
Pricing and billing
How much does an implementation cost?
Process Audit: from EUR 750 net, depending on the scale of the company. The implementation models (Pilot Implementation, Implementation Partnership) are priced individually after a consultation, depending on scope. Specific amounts are provided in the offer proposal.
Why aren't the prices of the models published on the page?
The scope of the implementation models depends on the specifics of the company, department, and process. A price quoted before the needs are identified would be either inflated (a buffer for uncertainty) or unreliable. After a consultation or an Audit, the quote is concrete and matched to the actual scope.
What is the payment mechanism?
Process Audit: payment after the report is presented. Pilot Implementation: staged payment with a decision point after the first week — the company may discontinue the collaboration if the initial days do not meet expectations. Details of the mechanism are provided in the offer proposal.
Are there additional costs beyond the price of the model?
Infrastructure costs (servers, API licenses, cloud services) depend on the solution and are borne by the client. They are predictable and presented before implementation. Some solutions run on the client's own infrastructure with no additional licensing costs.
How much does the Process Audit cost?
The Process Audit costs from EUR 750 net, depending on the scale of the company and the number of priority departments. The price includes on-site work (1 to 3 days), a report, and a presentation of results for the management board. Implementation models are priced individually after a consultation or an audit.
Category 4
Security and data
What about the security of our data?
The architecture of the solution is matched to the company's security requirements. On-premise implementations are possible (data never leaves the company's servers), as are hybrid models with isolation of sensitive data, and cloud solutions with data processing agreements. The choice of architecture is made at the design stage.
Will our data be sent to other companies' AI models?
Not without explicit consent and an agreement. Where a solution uses external models (e.g. AI provider APIs), data is transferred under a data processing agreement, and providers do not use it to train their models. Where full isolation is required, local models running on the company's own infrastructure are used instead.
Do you sign a non-disclosure agreement?
Yes. A non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is standard before the collaboration begins. All data and information obtained during the work remain the client's property and are not used in other projects.
What about GDPR?
Solutions are designed in compliance with GDPR. Where personal data is processed, appropriate safeguards, data processing agreements, and — where warranted — local models eliminating external data transfer are applied. GDPR compliance is part of the architecture design.
Category 5
Financing
Can the implementation be financed with a grant?
Yes. The Dig.IT program, Digital Transformation of Polish SMEs, covers up to 50% of the eligible costs of implementing a new digital technology in manufacturing companies. Building and deploying a tool qualifies, i.e. Pilot Implementation and the build part of Implementation Partnership. Audits and advisory work are not eligible costs. Details are published by the Industrial Development Agency (ARP) at digit.arp.pl.
Do you help with obtaining a grant?
Yes, the substantive and technical part for the project we are to deliver: technology scope, cost justification, competitive advantage and indicators. The company submits the application and handles the formal side (de minimis, financial documents, settlement) on its own or with a grant advisor.
When is the next Dig.IT call for applications?
Competition 2/2026 accepts applications from 2 to 30 November 2026, with a budget of PLN 40 million. ARP may close the call early if requested grants exceed 200% of the budget, so the application should be ready at the start of November. The rules are published by the Industrial Development Agency (ARP) at digit.arp.pl.
Can I get a grant for an AI implementation in manufacturing?
AI implementations in manufacturing companies can be financed through the Dig.IT program run by the Industrial Development Agency, with funding covering part of the eligible costs. The decision to grant funding is made by the financing institution based on the application and the funds available in a given call. The Process Audit report helps define the project scope for the application, although the audit itself is not an eligible cost. Current amounts and thresholds are published at digit.arp.pl.
Contact
Didn't find your answer?
A direct conversation is the fastest way to get answers to questions specific to your company.
The conversation is led by Jarosław Jaśkowiak, Artech's founder.