How much does it cost to implement AI in a business?

More and more companies are considering artificial intelligence to automate tasks, manage documents or improve internal processes. But before getting started, one question comes up: how much does it cost to implement AI in a business?

In Spain, a simple project can start at around €2,000 to €3,000, while business solutions with integrations, document analysis or advanced features can exceed €30,000.

The budget depends on the problem you want to solve, the tools the company already uses and how much customisation is needed. Ongoing running and maintenance costs also need to be taken into account.

Indicative prices for AI projects in 2026

Not every company needs to build its own platform. Sometimes configuring an existing tool is enough, while other projects require integrating systems or building specific applications.

These are some approximate investment ranges:

Type of solution	Implementation cost
Simple AI automation	€2,000 – €6,000
Chatbot connected to company information	€3,000 – €10,000
Automation with several integrations	€5,000 – €15,000
AI document assistant	€7,000 – €20,000
AI agent integrated with a CRM or ERP	€10,000 – €30,000
Custom enterprise AI platform	From €30,000

These prices are indicative and are not fixed rates. The final cost depends on the characteristics and needs of each project.

For example, automatically classifying emails does not require the same investment as building a platform that analyses thousands of documents and connects to several business applications.

What drives the budget?

1. Features

The first step is to define what you want to achieve.

An assistant that answers frequently asked questions has different needs from a system that looks up case files, extracts information from documents or prepares reports.

The more features and processes involved, the more work the analysis, development and testing will take.

2. Integrations with other software

Many companies work with Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Salesforce, Holded, Odoo or in-house applications.

If the AI needs to access these systems, they will have to be connected through APIs or other integration methods. The cost depends on the technical characteristics and connection options of each tool.

3. Data and documents

Having thousands of documents does not mean they are ready to be used with AI.

Scanned files, duplicate information or documents spread across different platforms may need preparing first.

Document projects can also use technologies such as OCR (reading text from scanned documents) and RAG (retrieving the relevant information before the AI answers) to extract information and find relevant content.

4. Privacy and security

When working with contracts, case files or confidential information, it is important to define where data is processed and who can access it.

Some companies need private infrastructure, specific access controls or greater traceability. These decisions can have a significant impact on the budget.

What does AI cost after it is implemented?

The initial investment is only part of the cost.

An AI solution can have monthly costs for model usage, servers, storage, licences and maintenance. It may also need human oversight to check certain results.

That is why it is worth asking for a quote that separates initial development from recurring costs.

An automation used a few times a day will have different needs from a system that processes thousands of queries or documents.

An example: how much can a company save with AI?

Imagine an accountancy firm with five employees who each spend one hour a day reviewing, classifying and organising documents.

• Working 220 days a year, that adds up to 1,100 hours spent on this task.
• At an estimated labour cost of €25 per hour, the process costs roughly €27,500 a year.
• If an AI solution cuts the time spent on the task in half, it would free up 550 hours a year, equivalent to €13,750 of working capacity.

This does not mean the company automatically saves that amount. The return will depend on the cost of the solution, the results achieved and how the freed-up time is used.

Even so, it makes it possible to assess the investment with concrete figures. You can run the same calculation with your own company’s data in our hidden-cost calculator.

Where to start implementing AI?

There is no need to bring AI into every department at once.

The best approach is usually to identify one repetitive process that takes up time and whose results can be measured.

Then it is worth checking whether it can be solved with an existing tool, by integrating current systems or by building a specific solution. If the answer is to build something of your own, How much does custom software development cost in Spain? explains what drives that budget.

A first implementation lets you see how it works, measure the results and decide whether it is worth expanding the project.

Frequently asked questions about AI projects

Do we need to build our own AI?

No. Many companies can use existing models and connect them to their applications. Private models or dedicated infrastructure can make sense when there are special security, privacy or performance requirements.

How long does it take to implement AI?

A simple automation can be up and running in a few weeks. Projects that require several integrations, document processing or custom development may take several months.

Can AI be added without replacing our current software?

Yes, as long as the applications allow connections or data exchange. In many cases AI features can be added to a CRM, ERP or document manager without replacing the whole system.

Implementing AI with BronixIA

At BronixIA we help companies adopt artificial intelligence through automation, document solutions, integrations and custom application development.

Before proposing a solution, we analyse existing processes, the tools available and the costs of implementation and maintenance. The goal is to identify where it makes sense to invest and what results the company can expect. See how we do it on our applied AI page.