# How to choose an AI consultancy in Australia

DataXLR8 · Original planning worksheet · Prepared 3 October 2026

Use this alongside the guide. Examples and proposed checks are not client results or a compliance certification.

Guide: https://dataxlr8.ai/blog/choose-ai-consultancy-australia/

## Before you proceed

- [ ] Describe one job, owner and consequence of error.
- [ ] Provide normal and difficult examples.
- [ ] Ask for alternatives to a custom build.
- [ ] Compare deliverables, exclusions and change terms.
- [ ] Agree acceptance cases and request observed results.
- [ ] Map data, permission and approval boundaries.
- [ ] Separate build fees from ongoing usage and review.
- [ ] Settle rights, account access, support and exit.

## Compare the deliverable, not the label

Compare the deliverable, not the label

| Compare this | Question to ask | Evidence to request |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Scope and exclusions | What precise job will the engagement complete? | Deliverables, assumptions and exclusions |
| Alternatives | Why this approach rather than existing software? | Options considered and tradeoffs |
| Access and action | What may the system read, propose and change? | Data-flow and permission map |
| Acceptance | How will we decide the work is acceptable? | Cases, expected outcomes and sign-off process |
| Review work | What must our team still check or correct? | Proposed review flow and trial measurements |
| Dependencies | What accounts, systems and vendors are required? | Dependency register and customer prerequisites |
| Commercial changes | What happens when an assumption proves wrong? | Change process, price basis and stop points |
| Operations | Who responds when an integration or model fails? | Support scope, escalation and recovery responsibilities |
| Rights and exit | What can we keep, modify or transfer? | Agreed rights, access, export and transition schedule |

## Your decision

Process owner: ____________________
Evidence gaps and next actions: ____________________
Decision / approver / date: ____________________

## Sources

- [Artificial intelligence](https://business.gov.au/online-and-digital/artificial-intelligence)
- [Building effective agents](https://www.anthropic.com/engineering/building-effective-agents)
- [Guidance for AI Adoption: implementation guidance](https://www.ai.gov.au/staying-safe-and-responsible/essential-ai-practices/guidance-ai-adoption-implementation-guidance)
- [LLM06:2025 Excessive Agency](https://genai.owasp.org/llmrisk/llm062025-excessive-agency/)
- [Guidance on privacy and the use of commercially available AI products](https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/privacy-guidance-for-organisations-and-government-agencies/guidance-on-privacy-and-the-use-of-commercially-available-ai-products)
- [Chapter 8: APP 8 cross-border disclosure of personal information](https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/australian-privacy-principles/australian-privacy-principles-guidelines/chapter-8-app-8-cross-border-disclosure-of-personal-information)