The AI Implementation Gap
While 92% of enterprises are investing in AI initiatives, only 31% have successfully moved their projects from pilot to production. This stark “implementation gap” isn’t just a technology challenge—it’s a business problem with significant consequences for competitiveness and growth.
Why does this gap exist? Through our work with dozens of SMEs and enterprise clients across the UK, US, and Europe, we’ve identified three critical barriers:
- Operational disconnection: Many AI solutions are developed in isolation from the business processes they’re meant to enhance
- Deployment complexity: Technical requirements for production environments differ dramatically from those in research settings
- Expertise scarcity: The specialized knowledge needed to build and operationalize domain-specific AI systems remains in short supply
The Miniml Approach: Production-First AI
At Miniml, we’ve built our entire methodology around solving these implementation challenges. Founded in Edinburgh with operations in San Francisco, our team combines deep technical expertise with practical business acumen.
Unlike traditional consultancies that focus primarily on strategy, or development shops that deliver code without business context, Miniml specializes in the critical middle ground: transforming AI potential into operational reality.
What We Mean by “Production-First”
Production-first means every solution we build is designed from day one to operate in real business environments. This includes:
- Business process integration: Systems that work within existing workflows rather than disrupting them
- Scalable architecture: Solutions built to handle enterprise-level data volumes and performance requirements
- Security and compliance: Implementations that meet industry and regional regulatory standards
- Measurable outcomes: Clear KPIs tied to business objectives, not technical metrics
Core Capabilities: Where We Excel
Our services span the full AI implementation lifecycle, with particular strength in domains requiring domain-specific knowledge and data security:
Custom Large Language Models (LLMs)
Generic AI models like ChatGPT have captured public imagination, but businesses often need models that understand their unique terminology, processes, and data.
Our custom LLM development creates tailored models that:
- Incorporate your proprietary knowledge and data
- Understand industry-specific terminology and contexts
- Deliver higher accuracy for specialized tasks
- Operate securely within your infrastructure
Intelligent Workflow Automation
Many business processes contain repetitive, high-volume tasks that are too complex for traditional automation but perfect for AI-enhanced solutions.
Our workflow automation practice:
- Identifies high-impact automation opportunities
- Designs systems that combine rules-based processing with AI intelligence
- Implements solutions that reduce costs while improving quality and speed
Generative AI for Business
Beyond the consumer applications, generative AI offers transformative potential for internal business processes, content creation, and decision support.
Our generative AI solutions:
- Focus on specific, high-value business applications
- Incorporate governance and control mechanisms
- Integrate with existing systems and data sources
Why Organizations Choose Miniml
1. We’re engineers first, consultants second
Our founding team comes from engineering backgrounds at leading AI companies and research institutions. We value working solutions over perfect slide decks.
2. We understand regulated industries
We’ve built our security practices and development methodology specifically for industries where data protection and regulatory compliance are non-negotiable.
3. We focus on business metrics that matter
Every project begins with clear definitions of success tied to operational KPIs—whether cost reduction, throughput improvement, or enhanced customer experience.
4. We bridge technical and operational reality
Our teams combine AI expertise with practical business knowledge, ensuring solutions that work within your operational constraints and organizational culture.
Starting Your AI Implementation Journey
If you’re looking to move beyond AI experimentation to real business impact, we offer several engagement models:
- AI Readiness Assessment: A structured evaluation of your organization’s data, systems, and processes to identify high-impact AI opportunities
- Proof of Concept Development: Rapid development of focused solutions to validate specific use cases
- Full-Scale Implementation: End-to-end development and deployment of production systems
- Optimization Services: Performance enhancement for existing AI systems
Each engagement follows our proven methodology that emphasizes early validation, iterative development, and clear success metrics.
Ready to Bridge Your AI Implementation Gap?
AI adoption doesn’t have to be high-risk or disruptive. With the right partner, you can move confidently from ambition to implementation—transforming AI potential into business reality.
Whether you’re exploring AI for the first time or scaling existing initiatives, we’re ready to help you move forward with confidence.
Miniml is a specialist AI consultancy and development firm headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, with operations in San Francisco. We support organizations across the UK, US, and Europe in building and deploying bespoke AI systems that deliver real operational impact.
