Procuring AI shouldn’t be different from procuring any other critical system — requirements first, then evaluate, pilot, and contract. But the AI market’s hype and opaque pricing make discipline especially valuable. Here’s how to run AI procurement well, and how dgm fits. (dgm implements osFoundry, a separate company’s platform — we are not osFoundry.)

Start from requirements, not a pitch

Begin with your use case and requirements — what problem, what data, what integration, what compliance needs (see how to scope an AI project). Evaluating against your own requirements keeps you from being steered by whoever has the flashiest demo.

What to evaluate

  • Model and vendor flexibility — can you switch or bring your own models?
  • Data control — where does data go; is it used to train their models?
  • Integration fit — does it connect to your systems?
  • Security and compliance — does it meet your requirements?
  • Transparent pricing — clear and predictable, or opaque and per-seat?

(See how to evaluate AI vendors.)

Pilot before you commit

The single most useful procurement step: a small, real pilot on your use case and data. It reveals integration, accuracy, and fit far better than any demo or claim — at low cost, before you commit (see how to run a successful AI pilot).

Insist on the right contract terms

Get these in writing (see what to look for in an AI vendor contract):

  • Data use — your data isn’t used to train the vendor’s models.
  • Model and vendor flexibility.
  • Exit and data portability — you can leave without rebuilding.
  • Security and compliance commitments.
  • Clear, predictable pricing.

How dgm fits

dgm’s transparent, fixed pricing ($399 assessment, $3,999/month, no per-seat fees) removes the opaque negotiation that complicates AI procurement, and its model-agnostic approach with data control addresses the key contract concerns. The assessment also helps define requirements before you evaluate. If you’d rather explore the platform yourself first, go straight to osFoundry; if you want procurement made simpler, that’s where dgm comes in.