AI Consulting
AI Consulting for UK SMEs — Practical Business Outcomes
We help UK SMEs understand where AI creates real value, build a clear plan to get there, and avoid wasting budget on tools that don't fit. Strategy first, technology second.
What Our AI Consulting Covers
Every engagement is tailored to your business, but these are the capabilities we draw on.
AI Opportunity Assessment
We audit your operations to find the workflows where AI will deliver the highest time and cost savings, so you invest in the right places first.
AI Readiness Audit
We evaluate your data quality, systems, team skills, and process maturity to tell you exactly what needs to change before AI can work reliably.
AI Roadmap
A phased plan that sequences quick wins and longer-term projects, with clear milestones, dependencies, and expected ROI at each stage.
Process Discovery
We map your end-to-end workflows to expose bottlenecks, manual handoffs, and data gaps that AI can eliminate or reduce.
ROI Prioritisation
Every opportunity is ranked by effort, impact, and payback period so you can start with the project that pays for itself fastest.
Governance and Risk
Practical AI governance frameworks covering data privacy, bias checks, human oversight, and compliance — sized for SMEs, not enterprises.
Tool Selection
Vendor-neutral guidance on which AI platforms, APIs, and integration tools fit your budget, tech stack, and team capability.
Leadership Advisory
We brief your leadership team on what AI can and cannot do for your business, helping them make informed investment decisions.
Who AI Consulting Is For
- You know AI could help, but you're not sure where to start.
- You've been pitched AI tools but can't tell which ones are worth the investment.
- Your team spends hours on manual processes that feel automatable.
- You want an honest assessment before committing budget.
- You need a plan your board or leadership team can approve.
Not sure where to start? Take our free AI readiness assessment to see how prepared your business is in under five minutes.
Typical engagement
- 30-minute workflow review call (free)
- Process mapping and opportunity scoring
- AI readiness assessment
- Prioritised roadmap with ROI estimates
- Board-ready summary and next steps
Who's Behind Simara
Practical AI, Built Around Real Operations
Lana Korzhuk
Founder & AI Automation Consultant
With 20+ years progressing from senior developer to Chief Operating Officer, Lana brings deep expertise in IT systems, ERP implementation, and operational strategy. An MBA in Finance, an IT degree, and postgraduate qualifications in AI & Machine Learning from Caltech give her both the technical depth and the business lens to design automation that actually works.
She founded SIMARA AI to give SMEs the same operational advantages that large enterprises build with six-figure budgets — starting with one workflow, proving the value, and scaling only what the numbers justify.
“Most SME AI projects fail because they start with the tool instead of the workflow. We start with the manual bottleneck, measure the cost, and build only what can prove value.”
— Lana Korzhuk, Founder
Operations First
AI only works when the workflow, data, and people around it are understood. We start with how work actually happens.
No Rip-and-Replace Thinking
We design around existing systems where possible — ERP, CRM, spreadsheets — not expensive rebuilds.
Human Oversight by Design
AI workflows should flag uncertainty, route exceptions, and keep people in control of decisions that matter.
Measurable Before Scalable
We start with one workflow and prove whether the numbers justify scaling. No commitment beyond what's proven.
AI consulting insights
Practical guides on planning and prioritising AI for UK SMEs.
AI Consultancy for SMEs: How to Turn ‘AI Interest’ into Measurable ROI in 90 Days
Most SMEs don’t need “AI transformation”. They need 1–3 workflows automated in the next 90 days. This guide shows how to use AI consultancy to get there – without wasting budget on experiments.
Read the guideAI Consulting Services for UK SMEs: A Practical Buyer’s Guide to Scoping, Pricing, and Getting ROI in 90 Days
A practical buyer’s guide for UK SMEs on AI consulting services: how to scope work, understand pricing, avoid dead-end pilots, and get measurable ROI in 90 days.
Read the guideAI Consulting UK for SMEs: A Practical Buyer’s Guide to Your First Automation Project
A practical UK-focused guide for 10–100 person SMEs on when to hire AI consulting, how to choose a partner, scope your first automation project, and measure ROI.
Read the guideAI Governance Automations: 7 Ways UK SMEs Reduce Compliance Risk in 2026
Seven practical AI governance automations that harden GDPR and compliance workflows in UK SMEs, turning messy email trails into quiet, audit-ready controls.
Read the guideFrequently Asked Questions
How much does AI consulting cost for a UK SME?▾
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Is our business data safe during an assessment?▾
Do we need an in-house data science or IT team?▾
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Related Services
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Automated data extraction from invoices, contracts, and forms — straight into your systems.
Learn moreAI Training
Hands-on AI skills, governance, and adoption programmes for leadership and operations teams.
Learn moreNot Sure Where AI Fits in Your Business?
Book a free 30-minute AI opportunity review. We'll identify the highest-value starting point and give you an honest assessment of what's realistic.
Book AI Opportunity Review