First call
What you spend on, roughly how many systems, and how sensitive the data is.
Observability & Governance See every cost. Know who can reach your data.
Independent consulting on technology spend, AI spend and the governance that keeps both under control. The moving map behind this text shows your systems. When someone tries to get in without approval, or data starts to leave, it is found and the gap is closed.
The short version, in 85 seconds.
Start here
Three pages worth reading first.
GovernanceData and AI governanceWho and what can reach your data, the three ways AI enters an organisation, and simple first steps for any size.Read it
SpendSpend observability and optimisationWhy spreading costs over five years no longer works, how to put a cost on every part of your technology, people included, and how to start small.Read it
AI valueTokenomicsThe FinOps method for measuring what AI costs and what it is worth, counted in tokens.Read it
Governance, in one picture
Every time data moves, it is recorded.
Each time data moves, the record shows who moved it, what was done, where, when, how, and with which account or tool. Approved moves go through. A move that is not approved is blocked and recorded.
WhenWhoWhatWhereHowWith whatResult
Approved, let through and recordedNot approved, blocked and recorded
Illustrative only: the teams and systems are made up, and one blocked request is shown. Governance closes the gaps that data leaks through; it cannot promise that nothing will ever leak.
Governance keeps it all under control.
Read about data and AI governance
Four plain rules: who may buy what, who owns each cost, what data may go into AI, and how it is all monitored.
AI arrives three ways at once: tools staff sign up for, AI features switched on inside software you already pay for, and usage bills that grow with every request. Without governance, this is where data leaks start.
Governance closes the gaps that data leaks through.
- Who may buy what
- Who owns each cost
- What data may go into AI
- How it is all monitored
See, control and optimise your spend.
Read about spend observability and optimisation Read about tokenomics
See
Every team sees what it spends, and every AI use has a cost per answer or per request.
Control
Agreed spending limits, alerts when costs rise unexpectedly, and a 12-month calendar of renewals and notice dates.
Optimise
Savings ranked by value and effort, starting with changes you can make within 30 days without changing a contract, each with an owner.
We never work inside your systems. Your teams switch on what is agreed; we measure the result from the exports you send.
How we work with you
Scope and price in writing
Scope document, contract, confidentiality agreement and data-handling terms. Work starts once signed and 50% is paid.
Discovery and a signed baseline
Interviews, your data and a map of every system. You confirm in writing that the list is complete.
The work
For a review: spend, savings and the true cost of each AI use. For a setup: tracking, alerts and team reports, set up with your people.
Final delivery or handover
You accept the deliverables, and the rest of the fee is due at sign-off.
The AI and technology cost review: ten working days
How spend is managed todaydays 1–2
Your data arrivesdays 2–4
Review with your teamdays 4–5
You sign the baselineday 5
Spend, savings, gapsdays 6–8
True cost of AIdays 6–9
Final deliveryday 10
Services
- AI and technology cost review
- 10 working daysa signed-off list of every system you pay for, and the true cost of your AI use
- Cloud spend management
- 4 weekssetup for smaller organisations; optional monthly service
- AI spend management
- 4 weekssetup for smaller organisations; optional monthly service
- Technology spend management
- 7 weekssetup for smaller organisations; optional monthly service
- Monthly reporting
- Monthlykeeps the cost review's results up to date
Typical prices, based on the effort this work usually takes. Your actual price depends on your needs and is agreed in writing before we start. See typical prices. Data governance for AI: talk to us.
See every step, from first call to sign-offBased on recognised methods
Read about our method and standards
- FinOps Framework
- The FinOps Foundation's method for managing technology spend as a regular business activity.
- FOCUS
- One common layout for bills from any vendor, so costs can be compared directly.
- ISO/IEC 19770
- The international standard for tracking the software you own, install and use.
- TBM
- The TBM Council's way to sort technology costs: what was bought, what it does, who uses it.
Your confidential data is processed only on our own machines and never sent to cloud AI services. Each client has its own workspace. On request we delete everything at the end and give you a signed certificate of deletion.
Take control of your technology spend.
Start with one call: tell us what you spend on and what worries you. If a review suits your needs, you get a written scope and price.
Book a first callOr email dave.m@roughdigits.com.