Our Approach to AI: How Hartz AI Builds Capability in UK SMEs
Feeling overwhelmed by AI advice that doesn't fit your business? We get it. Our methodology was built for teams who want practical results, not PowerPoint decks and jargon.
Hartz AI uses a four-stage methodology - assess, plan, build, sustain - to help UK SMEs adopt AI practically. Every engagement transfers knowledge to your team so you become self-sufficient. Over 500 professionals trained, 85% of clients operating independently within 12 months.
How we work
How does Hartz AI approach AI implementation?
Hartz AI approaches AI implementation through a structured, four-stage methodology: assess, plan, build and sustain. Craig Hartzel designed this framework specifically for UK SMEs because most AI consultancy firms use enterprise playbooks that ignore the realities of smaller teams and tighter budgets.
Each stage delivers standalone value. You can start with a workshop and stop there, or continue through to full implementation. There is no lock-in, no minimum contract and no dependency by design. The methodology works because it builds your team's confidence and skills at every step.
The four stages
What are the four stages of the Hartz AI methodology?
Assess
We start by understanding where you are now. Through workshops or an AI readiness audit, we map your current processes, identify high-impact opportunities and benchmark your team's AI confidence. No assumptions, just evidence.
Plan
We build a clear, time-bound roadmap tailored to your budget and capacity. Each recommendation is prioritised by impact and effort. You get a plan your team can understand and your board can approve.
Build
Samuel Kelly leads technical development at Hartz AI. We build AI solutions into your existing tools and workflows. Every implementation includes team training and documentation so your people can run it from day one.
Sustain
We hand over completely. Your team receives documentation, training materials and a clear operating guide. 85% of our clients become self-sufficient within 12 months. We offer optional check-ins, but the goal is independence.
The build stage is where your team develops real skills. Our AI training programmes for UK teams are designed to work alongside each implementation, so your people build confidence while the technology is being embedded.
Why it works
Why does this approach work for SMEs?
Most AI methodologies are designed for enterprises with dedicated data teams and six-figure budgets. They do not work for a 30-person professional services firm or a charity with limited IT resource. Hartz AI's methodology was built for exactly these organisations.
Each stage is designed to produce immediate, usable results. After the assess stage, your team already has a clearer picture of where AI fits. After the plan stage, you have a roadmap you can act on with our AI implementation services or on your own. No stage requires you to commit to the next.
According to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology's 2024 AI Activity in UK Businesses survey, 68% of small businesses cited lack of understanding as the primary barrier to AI adoption. Our methodology addresses this directly by teaching before building and checking understanding before moving forward.
The OECD's 2024 Generative AI and the SME Workforce report reinforces this finding: only 31% of SMEs across surveyed countries have adopted generative AI, with skills gaps and a lack of structured guidance cited as primary barriers. A capability-first approach addresses both.
Guiding principles
What principles guide the Hartz AI methodology?
Capability over dependency
Every engagement is designed to transfer knowledge. We train your team to lead AI initiatives independently, not to rely on consultants indefinitely.
Plain English, always
Craig Hartzel founded Hartz AI with a commitment to clarity. We explain every concept in language your whole team can follow, from the board to the front line.
Evidence before action
We assess before we plan and plan before we build. Every recommendation is backed by data from your business, not generic AI hype.
Responsible by default
Rivka Abecasis leads AI compliance at Hartz AI. AI governance and compliance are embedded in every stage, not bolted on at the end.
Common questions
Questions about the Hartz AI methodology
Start here
See how our approach works in practice
Book a free 15-minute discovery call. We will listen to where you are now, suggest a starting point and answer your questions. No pitch, no pressure, no obligation.
We'll come back to you within one working day.
Use the call to explore ideas safely, with no commitment.
Leave with at least one concrete next step.