What to Look for in an AI Development Partner: Your Ultimate Checklist

According to a 2025 report by McKinsey & Company, the long-term AI opportunity for global businesses is estimated to be $4.4 trillion in added productivity growth potential. Simple tools, like autocomplete and basic LLM-powered queries, provide simple solutions. However, these horizontal AI systems offer diminishing returns.  Custom AI solutions automate tedious tasks, address key pain points, and enhance the efficiency of companies and their employees. 

Companies seeking to enhance their operations require custom AI solutions that integrate seamlessly with their existing systems. However, taking on custom AI development projects isn’t always tenable, especially for lean teams with tight tech budgets. The more complicated the AI model, the more challenging it is to make and maintain. Other complexities include privacy risks, scope creep, AI governance challenges, and unscalable models.  

Partnering with an external AI development company or consultancy helps organizations overcome these challenges.

A good AI development partner will work to understand your goals and the systems you already have in place. They will work closely with you to create a solution that suits your needs and your team. 

Choosing the right AI firm ensures that you don’t just build what you think you want. Rather, your partner firm will also guide you in building what your business needs. This guide covers key aspects of what you should look for in an AI development partner. 

{{ai-project-consult="/case-banners/ai-project-consult"}}

Why is Choosing an AI Partner Important? 

Knowing how to choose an AI development company is crucial for ensuring that your AI project is not only successful but also sustainable as your business evolves. 

The process of developing an AI in-house is complex. If not done correctly, it can lead to significant issues, including data vulnerabilities, biased and inaccurate outputs, and poor model performance. An article by the Harvard Business Review reported that the failure rate of most AI projects was 80%—nearly double that of corporate IT project failures a decade ago. 

By finding the right AI partner, companies can reduce that risk. An experienced company will work closely with you to understand your goals, assess your available data, and design a solution that can integrate into your existing systems. 

The AI Development Company Checklist

Every AI development company has its own unique strengths and expertise. A team aligned with your goals will help you move faster, avoid common pitfalls, and build a solution that delivers real, lasting value.  Therefore, it’s vital to consider how each firm aligns with your specific requirements.

This AI development partner checklist lists some of the qualities you should look for when going through your options. 

1. Strong Reputation and Record

One of the best indicators of the right AI partner is their reputation. A good AI partner will typically have plenty of positive reviews and a history of successful projects, preferably in your company’s industry or around similar capabilities. For instance, if you’re looking for a company to build an ATS, see their track record of successful ATS builds.

Check their website for public case studies that outline their past work. While the site likely won’t have all of their past projects, it should showcase some of their top software and technology projects. Reviewing these proof points can help you understand their typical tech stack, industry fit, and overall approach.

Looking for an experienced AI partner?  Explore FullStack's AI solutions.

2. Clear Communication

Communication is key when working with all businesses, including development partners. Your partner should be transparent throughout the development process, providing regular updates and actively involving you in key decisions. 

Ask potential AI development partners how they keep clients informed: Do they hold regular sprint updates or standups? How many touchpoints are there? Do they send reports via email, and how frequently can you expect updates? There are several approaches to client-vendor communication, and finding a development company that aligns with your way of working will avoid future roadblocks.

3. Proof of Concept Approach

For large AI projects, it often makes sense to start with a Proof of Concept (PoC) from an AI partner specializing in them. AI proofs of concept act as trial runs for AI projects. They allow companies to test their ideas before committing to full-scale implementation, thereby reducing some of the risks associated with building a custom solution from scratch. A strong PoC reveals what works in a project, what doesn’t, and whether the concept is technically and strategically viable for your operations.

PoCs can also clarify what you’re looking for in a custom AI solution, saving time and creating a clearer roadmap for your development partner.

Not all development partners offer PoC development, and not all projects require them. However, a quality AI development business will understand the value of this step. They should discuss the benefits of including a PoC phase as part of their process.

4. Ability and Adaptability

When reviewing what to look for in an AI development partner, understanding the technical abilities and skills required is crucial. Before settling on a potential partner, review their website and portfolio to determine whether they possess the necessary experience, tools, and proper certifications for the specific product and technology you’re looking for. 

Additionally, when scoping AI solutions partners, verify that the company isn’t just offering adjusted off-the-shelf models (such as “custom” ChatGPT prompts) or limited templates. A good partner will review your needs with you, tailor their approach as necessary, and collaborate with you throughout the process to deliver the best possible outcome. 

What Are the Best Questions to Ask AI Vendors?

Once you’ve narrowed your list of potential development partners, there are a few critical questions to ask these AI development companies before making a final call. Much like interviewing a job candidate, asking the right questions can help you determine whether a vendor has the skills, experience, and approach that are suited to you and your project. 

Questions you should ask development candidates include:

1. What experience do you have with projects similar to ours?
2. What are the estimated timelines and costs for a project like ours?
3. Which AI technologies and frameworks do you specialize in?
4. What post-deployment support do you provide?
5. How do you handle data privacy and security?

While the exact questions you’ll want to ask will depend on your company, your industry, and your specific needs, they should help you whittle down your options when evaluating AI development vendors.

Where Can You Start Finding the Best AI Development Partners?

Knowing what to look for in an AI development partner is just the start. The process should be a conversation, not just about their expertise, but also about their fit with your unique project and team. The best software development company for one firm may not be a fit for another, and uncovering those differences is part of the process.

If you’re looking for a partner willing to have those tough conversations, FullStack Labs can help. Whether you’re looking for an AI agent for your customer service or AI-powered logistics that keep your supply chain running smoothly, we build a wide range of custom AI solutions to meet your business needs. 

Our team of developers has the experience and technical skills needed to support your project every step of the way. 

‍Interested in working with us? Book a consultation for your AI project today.