Start with the data boundary, the business owner and a testable definition of success.
1. Name the business decision
We would begin by identifying the task, the user and the decision the output will support. A credit-document summary and an autonomous credit decision are different projects. For an initial engagement, keep a qualified person responsible for interpretation and approval.
2. Draw the complete data boundary
Ask where source documents, extracted text, embeddings, prompts, answers and logs would go. Include administrative access and backups. A locally installed interface is not by itself evidence that every processing component remains local.
3. Agree the evaluation before the demonstration
Select representative, approved examples and define useful outputs. We would document extraction accuracy, unsupported assertions, citation quality and handling of missing information. The evaluation should include difficult examples, not only the best-looking results.
4. Separate the cost components
Our assessment separates infrastructure, model usage, platform licensing, delivery and support. Workload assumptions are written down and then checked with a benchmark. We do not size a GPU requirement from a registered-user count alone.
5. Define the route from PoC to production
A pilot should end with a decision, not an indefinite experiment. Agree what evidence is needed to proceed, what remains out of scope and who accepts the operational responsibilities. Production release, data approval and customer acceptance are distinct gates.
Make the next step specific.
Start with a bounded assessment, a named business owner and a clear decision to be made. The final scope and responsibilities belong in the engagement agreement.
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