Phase 1
Operations Diagnostic
Identify, validate, and prioritize the 2–3 workflows where automation will move the P&L in the next 12 months.
- Duration
- 8 weeks
- Pricing
- Fixed, typically $60–90K depending on firm size and scope
Approach
- Weeks 1–2 — Discovery. Leadership and frontline interviews, workflow shadowing, AMS/PAS data pulls.
- Weeks 3–4 — Workflow analysis. Cycle time, hand-offs, error rates, headcount allocation.
- Weeks 5–6 — Build-vs-buy evaluation. Vendor assessment, reference calls, fit with existing systems.
- Weeks 7–8 — Roadmap, financial model, executive readout.
Deliverables
- Current-state operating map
- Prioritized opportunity register
- Vendor selection matrix
- 12-month roadmap
- Three-year ROI model
- Executive readout
Most engagements end the diagnostic with a clear go/no-go on Phase 2.
Phase 2
Pilot Build
Ship one workflow, end-to-end, in production — with measured before/after metrics.
- Duration
- 8–12 weeks
- Pricing
- Milestone-based, typically $100–200K
Common candidates
- Submission intake and triage
- Certificate of insurance issuance
- Policy checking
- Loss run automation
- Renewal workflow orchestration
- Bordereaux generation
Milestone structure
- 25% on signature
- 25% on integration complete
- 25% on UAT signoff
- 25% on 30-day post-launch
Deliverables
- Live production workflow integrated with the firm's AMS/PAS
- Technical documentation
- Ops runbook
- Team training
- 30-day hypercare support
Phase 3
Retained Operator
Act as the firm's fractional automation lead — owning the roadmap, expanding to additional workflows, managing vendor relationships, and reporting to leadership.
- Duration
- Ongoing, six-month minimum commitment
- Pricing
- $15–25K/month depending on scope
Time commitment
- 1–2 days per week, on-site or remote as the work demands
- Quarterly leadership readouts
Output
- Continuous expansion of the roadmap
- Vendor accountability and management
- Internal team coaching where it accelerates the work