FAQ
AI consulting questions
answered plainly.
What AI consultants actually do, what they cost in Australia, how NOYS works, and what the compliance landscape looks like for businesses deploying AI in 2025–2026.
What AI consultants do
- What does an AI consultant do?
- An AI consultant identifies which business workflows are automatable, selects the right AI tools, builds the agent, and deploys it into the business's existing systems. A good AI consultant ships a working result — not a strategy deck — within a defined timeframe at a fixed price. NOYS focuses exclusively on implementation: we build the agent and put it to work in your business within 14 days.
- What is an AI agency?
- An AI agency is a firm that helps businesses design, build, and deploy artificial intelligence tools. AI agencies vary widely: some offer strategy-only engagements, some build custom AI software, and some — like NOYS — focus on productised implementation of AI agents for specific business workflows. Most Australian AI agencies do not publish their pricing or offer delivery guarantees.
- What is the difference between an AI consultant and an AI agency?
- An AI consultant is typically a solo operator or small team focused on advice and implementation. An AI agency usually has a broader team across strategy, development, and account management. In practice the terms are used interchangeably in Australia. What matters more than the label is whether the firm ships working software at a defined price within a defined timeline — most don't.
- Why do 85% of AI projects fail?
- The 85% failure stat (from Gartner/McKinsey) is well-documented. The core reasons: projects are too broad (trying to transform the whole business rather than one workflow), there's no defined success criterion before the project starts, and the AI is evaluated in a test environment rather than against real production use. NOYS's three-step model — audit one workflow, build one agent, deploy to production in 14 days — is specifically designed to avoid all three failure modes.
Pricing
- How much does an AI consultant cost in Australia?
- NOYS charges $750 for a workflow audit (Map), $2,500 to build and deploy one AI agent (Ship), and $500/month for ongoing monitoring (Run). The $750 Map fee credits toward the Ship. Independent AI consultants in Australia typically charge $150–$350/hour with no fixed scope. Big 4 AI consultancies start at $50,000 per engagement. NOYS is the fixed-price, SME-accessible alternative.
- How much does AI automation cost for a small business in Australia?
- A single AI automation built and deployed by NOYS costs $2,500 (Ship). The workflow audit to identify the right automation costs $750 and credits toward the build. Monthly monitoring costs $500. Total cost to have one working AI agent running in your business: $3,250 in the first month, then $500/month to keep it live. Most automations pay for themselves within 2–3 months based on time saved.
- What is included in the $750 Map?
- The $750 Map is a 2-hour working session where we document your workflows, score each by volume (tasks/week), effort (mins/task), and automation suitability. We identify the highest-ROI automation opportunity and deliver a written brief covering: the specific workflow to automate, the tools to connect, the expected time savings, the build scope, and the Day-14 criteria we'll test against. The $750 credits toward the Ship if you proceed within 30 days.
- What is included in the $2,500 Ship?
- The $2,500 Ship covers: one AI agent built and connected to your existing tools, tested against the acceptance criteria defined in the Map, deployed to your live environment, and confirmed working by day 14. The Ship fee is refunded in full if the agent is not running in your business by day 14. The refund clause is written into the contract before you sign.
How NOYS works
- How long does it take to build an AI agent?
- NOYS delivers one live AI agent in 14 days from project start (not from first contact). The 14-day clock starts when the Map brief is signed off and the Ship contract is executed. Day 14 means the agent is running in your production environment, processing real data, and delivering the defined output. If day 14 is missed, the $2,500 Ship fee is refunded.
- What tools does NOYS connect AI agents to?
- NOYS builds AI agents that connect to the tools your team already uses: Gmail, Outlook, Xero, MYOB, HubSpot, Salesforce, Notion, Google Sheets, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Calendly, Cal.com, and most industry-specific software. We use API connections — no screen scraping. We do not require you to change your tech stack or adopt new platforms.
- Do I need technical knowledge to work with NOYS?
- No. NOYS is built for non-technical business owners and managers. You describe the workflow in plain English ("we spend 3 hours a day chasing clients for documents"). We translate that into the technical specification, build the agent, and deploy it. You test it against real scenarios and confirm it meets the Day-14 criteria. No code required from your side.
- Does NOYS work with businesses outside Queensland?
- Yes. NOYS works with businesses across Australia — Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, and remote. All work is done remotely. AI implementation involves connecting agents to cloud-based tools that are accessible from anywhere. We have served businesses in QLD, NSW, VIC, and WA.
- What happens after the 14-day Ship?
- After the Ship, you can move to the Run ($500/month) for ongoing monitoring: daily health checks, alerts if anything breaks, and monthly optimisation reviews. The Run is month-to-month with no lock-in. Alternatively, you can manage the agent yourself — we hand over full documentation and access. Many clients start with the Run and cancel once they're confident managing the agent internally.
AI compliance & regulations
- What AI regulations apply to Australian businesses in 2025?
- Australian businesses using AI must currently comply with: the Privacy Act 1988 (amended 2024–2025, with new transparency requirements for automated decisions), the Consumer Data Right for data-sharing systems, and sector-specific rules (APRA for finance, AHPRA for healthcare, Legal Services Board for law firms). The Australian Government's Voluntary AI Safety Standard (8 guardrails) is not yet mandatory but expected to become compulsory by 2026–2027. ISO 42001 is increasingly required by enterprise clients as a procurement condition.
- What is ISO 42001 and do Australian businesses need it?
- ISO 42001 is the international AI management system standard (published 2023). It provides a framework for governing how AI is developed, deployed, and monitored. It's not currently mandatory in Australia, but is required by an increasing number of enterprise clients as a supplier condition — particularly in financial services, healthcare, and government-adjacent work. Every NOYS agent is built to be defensible under ISO 42001 by default.
- Is the data NOYS accesses kept in Australia?
- NOYS does not store client data. AI agents we build read data from your existing tools (email, CRM, accounting software) to process a specific workflow, then write the output back to your tools. We do not create or maintain a database of your client information. Data handling specifics — what is read, what triggers what action, what is logged — are documented in the workflow brief before the build starts.
AI tools & comparisons
- What AI tools does NOYS use to build agents?
- NOYS builds agents using the right tool for each workflow. Common tools include: n8n and Zapier for workflow orchestration, OpenAI and Anthropic APIs for language processing, Make for complex multi-step automations, Retell AI and Bland.ai for voice applications, and direct API integrations to business software. We select tools based on reliability, cost, and long-term supportability — not on what's newest.
- n8n vs Zapier — which is better for Australian businesses?
- Zapier is better for non-technical teams who need simple linear automations fast. n8n is better for complex workflows, high-volume automations, or businesses where data needs to stay in Australia (n8n can be self-hosted on Australian servers). For most Australian SMEs without a developer, Zapier is the faster path. NOYS uses both — we choose based on your workflow requirements. See our full n8n vs Zapier comparison.Read the full n8n vs Zapier comparison →
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