An operating core with its review chain running through it

AI Implementation / Discovery and Architecture

Define the system before you commit to the build.

YPAI turns an operational workflow, AI opportunity or failing prototype into a buildable system design.

Scope a discovery engagement Review the decision package
  1. Workflow specification
  2. Architecture decision record
  3. Evaluation plan
  4. Implementation roadmap

What you bring

Start from the point you are actually at.

Show us where the work begins, which systems and data it touches, who makes the decision, what outcome matters and what cannot fail.

A defined opportunity. You know where AI may create value, but the workflow, architecture and production requirements are still unresolved.

A manual workflow. The process is slow, inconsistent or difficult to scale, and you need to determine which steps should be assisted, automated or left unchanged.

A failing prototype. The demonstration works under controlled conditions but breaks against real data, integrations, permissions, latency, cost or user behaviour.

A broader implementation portfolio. You have multiple possible use cases and need to determine what should be built first, what depends on shared infrastructure and what should not be built.

Every one of those starting points ends in the same place. A system design your team can price, build and test.

What you receive

Discovery ends with decisions.

Each engagement produces a decision package that product, engineering, security, legal, finance and operations teams can use to approve, build, test or reject an implementation.

Discovery delivers a defined system with an intended purpose, an operating boundary and a measurable path to production.

  1. 01 Workflow specification Operating workflow specificationAutomation and authority boundaryData and knowledge readinessSystem and integration architectureEvaluation and acceptance planSecurity and governance controlsUnit economics and capacity modelImplementation roadmap See the complete decision package
  2. 02 Architecture decision record The model is one component. Eleven operating layersA production system must also control identity, context, permissions, actions, exceptions, evidence and failure. Explore the architecture decisions
  3. 03 Evaluation plan Design acceptance before the prototype. taskmetricthresholdacceptancerelease See how the evaluation plan is defined
  4. 04 Implementation roadmap The engagement ends with one of five decisions. BuildPilotFix the foundations firstUse an existing productStop See the complete decision package

The architecture record becomes the control document for the build.

The scope can cover one workflow, one existing system or a tightly defined portfolio of related use cases.

What you decide

The engagement ends with one of five decisions.

  1. Build

    The requirement, architecture, data, controls and economics support implementation.

  2. Pilot

    A limited production-representative test is needed to validate the highest-risk assumptions.

  3. Fix the foundations first

    Data quality, permissions, integrations, process ownership or evaluation material must be resolved before an AI build is justified.

  4. Use an existing product

    A configured commercial system meets the requirement more effectively than a custom implementation.

  5. Stop

    The expected value does not justify the cost, risk or operating burden.

Discovery can end in any of these five outcomes, including stop.

What happens next

Bring us the workflow, not a finished AI specification.

YPAI will scope the discovery required to reach a build decision.

Discovery does not require a downstream build commitment.

Start with a workflow, use case, prototype or implementation portfolio.

The architecture record can also be handed to your internal team or another implementation partner. Explore AI Implementation

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Discovery and architecture

Frequently asked questions

Is this a general AI strategy engagement?

The work is tied to a real workflow, system or tightly defined use-case portfolio. The output is an implementation decision and a buildable architecture.

Can YPAI assess an existing prototype?

Yes. YPAI can examine the prototype’s workflow fit, prompts, retrieval, integrations, permissions, evaluation results, logs, latency, cost and failure modes, then define what is required for production.

Does discovery include a prototype?

A focused technical spike can be included when a specific architecture decision cannot be resolved through inspection and analysis. A production-representative pilot is scoped separately against agreed acceptance criteria.

Can our internal team build from the output?

Yes. The workflow specification, architecture record, evaluation plan, control model and implementation backlog are designed to support handoff.