Hire an AI Consultant
The AI implementation experience your business needs, when you need it.
You need AI implementation experience, but hiring a full-time AI specialist does not make sense for most businesses. Hiring an AI consultant gives you implementation guidance when you need it without the commitment, cost, and overhead of a permanent hire.
I am Zack Shields, and I provide the AI implementation experience businesses need to improve their operations. From strategy through implementation to team training, I deliver the results you would expect from an internal implementation lead without the ongoing expense.
My consulting provides access to practical AI implementation experience with the flexibility to scale engagement based on your needs. Start with strategy consulting and expand to implementation, or jump straight to hands-on project work.
Whether you need a one-time project or ongoing advisory, hiring a consultant gives you the implementation experience without the commitment of building internal AI capability.
The AI Implementation Gap
AI implementation requires specialized implementation experience that most businesses do not have internally. Hiring full-time AI staff is expensive and often unnecessary for the scope of work required.
Without implementation guidance, AI initiatives often fail or underdeliver on their promise. The technology is increasingly accessible, but effective implementation requires experience that comes from multiple projects.
Software vendors have products to sell, not objective advice. You need independent implementation experience focused solely on your interests, not on selling you a particular solution.
What You Get When You Hire Me
I provide comprehensive AI consulting covering every aspect of AI adoption:
Strategic Guidance
AI strategy development and roadmap creation tailored to your specific business situation and goals.
Hands-on Implementation
Hands-on implementation of AI solutions using proven methodology that has worked across businesses.
Team Training
Training for your team to ensure successful adoption and build ongoing capability to manage AI tools.
Ongoing Advisory
Continued advisory and support as your AI capabilities evolve and new opportunities emerge.
Benefits of Hiring an AI Consultant
Practical Guidance
Access to AI implementation experience without the cost and commitment of hiring full-time staff.
Objective Advice
Independent, vendor-neutral recommendations focused solely on your best interests.
Faster Results
Experienced implementation gets you to results faster than learning through trial and error.
Flexible Engagement
Scale consulting up or down based on your needs and budget as projects progress.
How Consulting Works
My consulting process delivers results with clear structure:
Discovery
We discuss your business, goals, and AI opportunities in a free consultation call.
Proposal
I provide a detailed proposal for the engagement with clear scope and outcomes.
Execution
I deliver strategy, implementation, or both based on your needs and timeline.
Support
Ongoing support and advisory to ensure continued success and handle new opportunities.
Why Hire Me as Your AI Consultant
I bring 12+ successful implementations and proven implementation experience from working across multiple industries. My background includes running real businesses that use AI daily, so I understand both the technology and business realities.
My scoped implementation process provides confidence in the engagement. If implementations do not deliver workflow opportunities mapped, you start with a scoped plan for the implementation work.
Why Work With Me:
- 12+ successful implementations across industries
- Business owner who uses AI daily in real operations
- Scoped implementation process on implementation outcomes
- Vendor-neutral recommendations in your interest
- Flexible engagement options from advisory to implementation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the investment to hire you?
Engagements start at $2,500 for focused projects. Comprehensive implementations vary based on scope.
How long do engagements typically last?
Initial implementations take 2-6 weeks. Ongoing advisory relationships continue based on your needs.
Have more questions?
Ask them in your free workflow review →About Your Consultant
I am Zack Shields, an AI adoption and automation consultant with a background in business operations, sales, implementation, and hands-on technical build work. I focus on the gap between AI interest and real operating capability.
My experience spans real estate operations, hospitality systems, short-term rental workflows, sales operations, dashboards, RAG tools, API integrations, CRM automation, and team training. That mix matters because the hard part is rarely the model. The hard part is designing a system people trust enough to use.
When you work with me, you get a partner who can map the workflow, write the requirements, build the tool, test the edge cases, document the process, and support adoption after launch.
My approach prioritizes practical outcomes over impressive-sounding technology. Every recommendation is evaluated against the work your team actually does: handoffs, approvals, exceptions, reporting, training, and long-term maintainability.
Getting Started is Simple
The first step is a free 30-minute workflow review where we discuss your systems, handoffs, bottlenecks, and the places AI or automation may be worth building.
Book Your Call
Schedule a focused conversation about the workflow you want to improve.
Share Your Challenges
Walk through the systems, users, exceptions, and reporting gaps that shape the work.
Get Your Roadmap
Leave with practical next steps for discovery, pilot scope, or implementation.
Ready to Hire an AI Consultant?
Book a free 30-minute call to discuss your AI consulting needs.