Bridge the 42% gap. From AI pilot to production.
BTA's 4-phase engagement model takes AI workloads from readiness assessment to production deployment with fixed-price phases, fixed exit gates, and a mentored handoff.
Cisco MINT-certified for AI Infrastructure and AI Solutions. Anchored to Cisco's MINT Compute SolutionsPlus framework. Runs through the BTA AI POD, a production Cisco UCS X + NVIDIA L40S platform that BTA operates in production.
Why 42% of AI pilots never reach production.
Pilot success and production success are different problems. BTA's engagement model is designed for the second problem.
- Risk 01
Re-qualification of model choice in production
Most engagements pick a model in the pilot and re-litigate it under production constraints. Phase 2 picks the model in the BTA AI POD with a measured eval harness. Phase 3 reuses the same harness, no re-tuning.
- Risk 02
Custom scope every phase
Replan cycles between phases burn calendar and budget. BTA's phases are fixed-price with fixed exit gates. Phase 2 and Phase 3 scope flow from the Phase 1 recommendation with no replan.
- Risk 03
Production dependency on the implementer
Customers exit pilots dependent on the consulting firm. Phase 3B is a mentored install. Customer team is mentored to self-sufficiency before production sign-off.
The 4-phase BTA AI engagement model.
Each phase is fixed-price with fixed deliverables and a fixed exit gate. No replan cycles. Customer exits each phase with a documented decision: continue, change path, or park.
- 01
Phase 1 · Assessment & Discovery (3 wk)
AI Readiness Scorecard, Use Case Priority Matrix, Cost Clarity Report, 12-Month Roadmap, Reference Architecture Shortlist, Compliance Gap Snapshot. Standardized 3-week toolkit.
- 02
Phase 2 · Architecture Validation, Model Selection & Tuning (3 wk)
Lab-validated reference architecture in BTA AI POD, model selected from 8-model catalog, RAG-tune or inference path, agentic workflow pattern, governance controls install (NIST AI RMF), evaluation harness with metrics.
- 03
Phase 3A · Scoped Proof of Value (4 wk)
Tuned model deployed in customer environment, 1 agentic workflow with read-only data integration, evaluation harness reused on customer data, measured outcomes brief, Phase 3B scope draft or clean exit recommendation.
- 04
Phase 3B · Mentored Install + T&M (3 wk + T&M)
Fixed-fee kickoff locks T&M scope. Production deployment with multi-node/HA, full agentic workflow with signed authority matrix, role-based KT, production readiness gate, self-sufficiency attestation, 90-day post-deploy check-in cycle.
What AI Deployment Program delivers.
Concrete, customer-side results we measure to.
- 4Fixed-price phases · fixed exit gates
- 0Replan cycles between phases
- OwnedDay-2 by mentored customer team
- MINTAnchored to Cisco MINT Compute SolutionsPlus
We're architects who execute.
Three principles every BTA engagement runs on. Visible in the work itself.
We architect, deploy, and stay through Day-2.
Every engagement is end-to-end. We design the target environment, deploy it in stages, and remain on hand through the operational handoff.
We train your team to own the outcome.
Training is part of every engagement. By the close of an engagement, your operators can run, maintain, and defend the system to an auditor.
We measure success when your team runs it alone.
An engagement closes when your team is operating the solution without us in the room. SIMPLE methodology enforces this exit criterion on every project.
We meet you where you are.
Some teams want the full BTA delivery from architecture to handoff. Others bring us in for a single advisory window or a fully managed operations contract. Pick the model that fits and adjust as the business changes.
Consulting & Advisory
Strategy and senior guidance. Architecture reviews, technology assessments, and roadmap design for teams that own their own operations.
Learn moreManaged Services
BTA runs the system day to day under your governance. Monitoring, change management, escalation paths, and SLAs for teams without Day-2 capacity.
Learn moreDeployment
Implementation-only engagement. Faster than the Full Service Lifecycle when the customer team will not own operations afterwards.
Learn moreOptimization
Refresh and refine an existing environment. Performance, automation, and refactor work for platforms already in production.
Learn moreEnablement
SIMPLE-driven Quickstart programs that deliver a specific Cisco capability into production on a known timeline.
Learn moreMentoring
Capability transfer for teams adopting a new platform. Pair-programming, custom training modules, and Cisco MINT-aligned curriculum.
Learn more
Questions buyers ask about AI Deployment Program.
Direct answers from BTA architects who run these engagements.
Why a 4-phase model and not a single SOW?
Single-SOW AI engagements re-litigate scope at every milestone. The 4-phase model fixes scope at each phase with a defined exit gate. Phase 2 and Phase 3 scope flow from the Phase 1 recommendation, so there is no replan cycle.What is the BTA AI POD?
A production Cisco UCS X Series platform with NVIDIA L40S GPUs that BTA operates and maintains. It is where Phase 2 architecture validation and model tuning happen. The model catalog, agentic pattern library, and governance controls are battle-tested in the platform BTA runs in production, not reference slides.What is the 42% gap?
Industry data shows roughly 42% of enterprise AI pilots are abandoned before production. The Phase 1 readiness scorecard, Phase 2 lab validation, and Phase 3A measured PoV are designed to surface kill criteria early, so customers either commit to production with confidence or exit cleanly with a documented rationale.Can we start at Phase 2 if we already have discovery?
Yes, if you have an equivalent discovery output. Phase 1 entry, Phase 2 entry, Phase 3A entry, and Phase 3B entry are all valid starting points based on the readiness review.What happens at Phase 3B exit?
Production readiness sign-off with documented failure-mode and blast-radius tests. Self-sufficiency attestation. Customer team mentored to operate without BTA on Day-2. 90-day post-deploy check-in cycle.
Schedule a call. We’ll scope it in 30 minutes.
Bring your hardest architecture problem. We’ll tell you what we’d do, what it costs, and how long it takes.
- 30-minute scoping call
- 1,000+ projects shipped
- Training in every engagement