How to Choose an AI Automation Agency (Without Getting Burned)

The AI automation agency space is exploding. Some are legitimate implementation partners. Others are marketing agencies that bolted "AI" onto their name. Here's how to tell the difference.

---

7 Questions to Ask Every AI Agency

1. "Can you show me a working system you've built?" Not a mockup. A system running in a real client's business.
2. "What happens when the automation breaks?" Good agencies build error handling and monitoring. Bad ones blame the tool.
3. "How do you measure success?" Look for specific metrics: hours saved, response time improvement, conversion changes.
4. "What platforms do you specialize in?" Generalists who claim everything usually do nothing deeply.
5. "What's the handoff process?" Documentation? Training? Or permanent dependency?
6. "What's your implementation timeline?" Under 8 weeks for initial systems is realistic.
7. "Can I talk to a current client?" References matter more than case studies.

---

3 Red Flags

• They lead with the AI model, not your problem. If the pitch starts with "GPT-4" instead of "your lead follow-up," they're selling technology, not solutions.
• No production systems in their portfolio. Strategy decks aren't implementation.
• Everything is "custom" with no process. Good agencies have a repeatable framework.