Start with a complete workflow, not a feature count.
A feature list can hide the work required to make a product usable. Consider a training exercise: a learner starts a scenario, interacts with a partner, and reviews feedback. Each part needs to work together. Permissions, content, data, and failure behavior also belong in the scope.
Thunderbird’s Digital Negotiation Assistant is a real example from TARIY’s work: voice-based negotiation practice connects an AI partner with feedback and a dashboard. ASU News describes that experience. It does not establish the project’s cost; we do not publish a client budget here.
Integrations and existing data change the estimate.
A new application that uses one accessible data source has a different scope from a platform that connects several systems. Check whether APIs are available, which permissions are needed, how records match, and who resolves inconsistent information.
Legacy software can add undocumented business rules and migration requirements. TARIY’s SMART Flex engagement involved updating an existing legacy platform. An upgrade must account for the work the existing system already supports.
AI adds evaluation and running costs.
An AI feature needs examples of useful output, failure cases, review rules, and fallback behavior. Voice interactions also require decisions about responsiveness and the user experience. Those decisions are part of product delivery, not just a model subscription.
Estimate model usage, hosting, storage, and other third-party charges separately from development. A reliable quote explains the assumptions behind both the build and ongoing operation.
Compare scopes before comparing prices.
At TARIY, larger engagements commonly fall at different points in the $20,000–$80,000 range. These are typical engagement values, not fixed packages. We do not assign a price from a headline such as ‘AI platform’ before reviewing the requirements.
Website projects start at $5,000 and have a separate scope. A marketing website, a custom application, and an integrated operations workflow should not be treated as equivalent purchases.
Bring these details to the first conversation.
Describe the user, the task, what exists today, required integrations, your target timing, and the budget you are considering. Include who will maintain the system. A clear first release makes it easier to identify what belongs in the estimate and what can wait.
If important requirements are unknown, agree on a discovery scope before a large implementation. The next decision should be concrete: what to investigate, what to build first, or why another approach fits better.