As of 2025, around 78% of companies across the globe now use AI in at least one business function. Even in New Zealand, more and more businesses are on hunt for the best “agentic” AI consultants. And why not? They can help them stay ahead of curve.
But wait a minute, given there are hundreds of consultants out there, is it really easy to find a great one? The answer is NO – it’s more like hunting for a needle in a haystack.
Don’t worry. In this blog, API Connects – famous for AI and ML services – will share 10 practical tips to hire an agentic AI consultant who’s actually the pick of the bunch. Someone who can truly turn your artificial intelligence ambitions into real business advantage.
In a hurry? Here’s quick version:
Frequently Asked Agentic AI Consultant Questions
How to hire the best agentic AI consultant in NZ?
Consider these points when looking for the best AI consultant for your enterprise:
– Clarify your business goals first
– Look for strong technical credentials and relevant experience
– Demand case studies and proof of results
– Check soft skills
– Ensure they grasp data structure and governance
– Ask about process they follow
– Begin with pilot or small project first
– Check references and talk to past clients
– Verify long-term support, maintenance and scalability plans
– Ensure cultural fit and team alignment
Who’s the best agentic AI consultant in NZ?
When it comes to agentic AI consulting in New Zealand, API Connects stands out as a top choice. We are a 100% New Zealand–owned technology consultancy with deep expertise in AI automation, machine learning, data engineering, DevOps, and system integration.
All of which are essential for successful AI-driven transformation!
Now let’s discuss tips in detail!
How to Hire Best Agentic AI Consultant?
Here are some strategies that will make it easy for you to pick the top-notch agentic AI consultant in NZ:
Clarify your business goals first
If you’ve ever bought a vehicle, say a bike, you understand it’s not simple to just go to a showroom and say “oh, I want this one.” You have to set goals – engine capacity (CC), exhaust type (single or twin), riding style (cruiser, sports, dirt, etc), seat height, weight, intended use, features, budget.
Finding the right agentic AI consultant is similar. Before even vetting, one needs to be crystal clear on what they want to achieve with this technology. Ask questions like:
– Am I aiming for cost-savings?
– Do I want to automate my business functions?
– Is there a need for data-driven forecasting or improved decision-making?
Find answers to questions like these and you get a firm grip on your objectives. Even the potential consultants will understand exactly what your business success should be like. They will be able to purpose solutions tailored to your needs rather than offering generic ones.
Look for strong technical credentials and relevant experience
Not all AI experience is equal. Some could have been around the block a few times. Others could be new to it. You need to make sure the candidate you have shortlisted has the right background as it can make or break your project.
A great agentic AI consultant typically has:
– Pursued education and got certification in data science, machine learning, and other related fields
– Proficiency in frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, and automation pipelines
Track record in real deployments. Not just academic credentials
Do your shortlisted AI consultants tick all these pointers? Bingo! Their solid technical depth can handle data proprocessing, model tuning, and deployment challenges. They can help you future-proof your AI initiatives by foretelling common pitfalls way before they come to surface.
No wonder why AI consulting is projected to grow at a CAGR of 31.2% through 2028.
Demand case studies and proof of results
“Talk is cheap, results aren’t.” Always ask potential agentic AI consultants to support their arguments with actual case studies. Here’s what you should request for:
– Before-and-after measures (saved percentage of time, revenue growth, and decrease in error rates, for example)
– References or testimonials of clients
– Examples of long-term impact (not only prototypes)
Even though the AI consulting market is on fire, most projects are not scaled or value-creating. Witnessing real evidence tells you that your hired consultant knows not just the AI theory but drives real business outcomes using it.
Check soft skills
Technical chops represent only a half of the equation. Your consultant should use effective communication and understand business context. Here are the key traits enterprises should seek in their candidate:
– Potential to discuss complicated concepts in a straightforward language for stakeholders
– Right business attitude. See if they are capable of attaching AI outputs to the strategy
– Collaborative style with your internal teams
Remember, even the best agentic AI work cannot succeed without effective communication. Teams that cannot perceive or embrace it mostly lead to the downfall of the project once delivered.
Ensure they grasp data structure and governance
Like any other technology out there, artificial intelligence can only be good as the data they are nourished by. And data issues are among most significant obstacles to success. Your selected agentic AI consultant should evaluate the quality and governance of your data before any model building.
Check if they:
– Audit data readiness. Meaning, does your data qualify to be used in AI?
– Evaluate data governance and privacy compliance. Particularly important in regulated industries.
– Plan for preprocessing and cleansing data.
We’ve seen many organizations in New Zealand underestimate this while choosing the AI agentic consultant. So keep this in mind:
Bad data = erroneous model, compliance risks, and unreliable results. Despite the technical prowess of the consultant.
Check out these resources as well:
CI CD workflow practices
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Conversational AI for enterprise
Start back office process automation
Ask about the process they follow
Trust in the process – we bet our readers have heard about this quote. One literally needs a trustable process while in the best agentic AI consultant. Make sure your selected candidate does not use ad-hoc hacks but structured approaches – from evaluation to deployment.
Here are key elements to evaluate:
– Proof-of-Concept (PoC) – do they begin with a small test phase?
– Metrics and criteria of success – are there established standards prior to full implementation?
– Iterative approach – do they adapt models based on real results?
The consultants (best ones) do not simply make models. They make them work in the real business setting with clear milestones and deployment plans. This gradual process aids in risk mitigation and hasten reality gains rather than one-shot deliveries.
Begin with a pilot or a small project first
Vincent Van Gogh once said, “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together” When it comes to agentic AI, those small steps are called pilot projects. It is recommended to begin with it before committing a long contract or allotting a huge budget.
Wondering why? Well, here are some reasons:
– Capability validation: You can observe the way your agentic AI consultant operates, communicates and performs.
– Risk control: You can save on large upfront expenses if they are is not the right fit.
– Risk insight: Initial findings provide hints concerning ROI and possible future worth.
Sophisticated organizations usually treat this as a qualification round – not a final project. If successful, you can open the way to more ambitious AI work.
Check references and talk to past clients
Around 92% of business buyers check out reviews and testimonials before buying any goods or services. We want you to become part of this figure. After all, past performance is one of most reliable predictors for future success. Request references from your selected agentic AI consultant.
Ask if it’s possible to talk directly with former clients. If they arrange meeting face-to-face or over a call, ask these questions:
– Did they deliver on time and meet quality expectations?
– Were they clear, responsive, and transparent?
– Have outcomes created quantifiable value?
Honest feedback of previous clients minimizes guesswork. You can see their real strengths and weaknesses, not just marketing claims.
Verify long-term support, maintenance, and scalability plans
AI is not something built once. It develops. An effective agentic AI consultant thinks about further implementation. Make sure to look for these in your selected candidate:
– Maintenance commitments: Will they resolve problems post-implementation?
– Update strategies: How do models adapt to changing data?
– Scalability roadmap: Does your solution scale with the growth of your business?
We’ve seen many enterprises not contemplating much on post-launch support. Result? Dropped models and wastage of money. The most effective agentic AI consultants check, document, and transfer knowledge regularly so that you don’t get stuck later.
Ensure cultural fit and team alignment
Technical proficiency is crucial. But collaboration success is dependent on the alignment with the culture. AI projects include cross-functional tasks – data teams, operations, leadership. Therefore, your hired AI consultant should align with your corporate culture.
Here are some fit considerations:
– Communication style: Do they match your internal pace and language?
– Team collaboration: Are they receptive to feedback and easy to deal with?
– Learning attitude: Do they facilitate internal capabilities building or simply handover the code?
Agentic AI consultants who fit in your team can shorten the learning curve and assist in entrenching AI solutions that will actually be adopted and utilized by your own teams.
Hire Best AI Agentic Consultants of API Connects in NZ
There you go!
We have shared some tips to consider when looking for the best agentic AI consultants in New Zealand. Yes, the hiring process is not easy at all. There are a lot of options to choose from.
But if homework is done well, means if you follow a structured approach, you can zero in on the right expert who can guide your AI journey with clarity and impact. Organizations that seek real results should consider hiring API Connects.
Deep technical expertise with business insight, local market understanding, proven track record – we combine them all to deliver tailored, scalable AI solutions that drive measurable outcomes.
Call us at 092430360. Let’s discuss your AI goals today.
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