The verdict in three sentences
Adding AI features to existing business software (semantic search, summarisation, suggestions) costs 10,000 to 35,000 EUR and ships in 4 to 10 weeks, without rebuilding the application. The recurring cost depends on the chosen model: 0.001 to 0.015 EUR per 1,000 tokens by capability. Starting with one high-value feature (search or summarisation) reassures users and frames the budget before extending.
What adding an AI brick costs in 2026
The budget depends on the number of use cases and the maturity of your architecture (available APIs, accessible database).
| Item | 2026 range (Amsterdam) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping + use-case selection | 1,500 - 4,000 EUR | Search, summary, suggestions |
| AI feature development | 5,000 - 18,000 EUR | By complexity |
| Indexing / vectorisation | 2,000 - 7,000 EUR | For semantic search |
| Guardrails + quality evaluation | 1,500 - 6,000 EUR | Tests, filters, logs |
| Total setup | 10,000 - 35,000 EUR | Depending on scope |
| LLM API (per month) | 80 - 800 EUR | By volume and model |
API cost by model (2026)
Model choice trades off quality, latency and cost per token.
| Model type | Indicative cost / 1000 tokens | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Small fast model | 0.001 - 0.003 EUR | Classification, short summary |
| Mid-tier model | 0.003 - 0.008 EUR | Search, suggestions |
| Large high-end model | 0.008 - 0.015 EUR | Reasoning, complex writing |
| Self-hosted open-source model | GPU server cost | High volume, sensitive data |
Mini case study
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Julien, CTO of a business software vendor in Amsterdam (40 staff), wants to add semantic search and automatic summarisation to his SaaS used by 600 clients. He budgets 24,000 EUR of development + 350 EUR/month of API. Semantic search cuts the average time to find information from 4 min to 40 s, i.e. ~3 min saved per search. Across 8,000 searches/month on the client side, the feature becomes a retention and upsell argument: two extra premium plans per month at 90 EUR cover the running cost, and the investment pays back in about 9 to 12 months through perceived value.
FAQ
Do I need to rebuild the existing application? No in most cases: the AI brick is added via APIs without touching the core. A rebuild is only needed if the architecture is too closed to expose the useful data.
How do I control API cost? By choosing the right model per use case, caching frequent responses and limiting context size. You can cut the bill by 3 to 5x by only using the large model when justified.
Is semantic search worth more than keyword search? It complements it: it finds documents by meaning, not just exact terms, which sharply raises the rate of relevant answers on large bases.
How do I guarantee answer quality? Through an evaluation phase with test sets, anti-drift guardrails and logs. That often-neglected step is what separates a reliable addition from an unstable demo.
Can the model be hosted internally? Yes, a self-hosted open-source model is relevant for high volumes or very sensitive data, at the cost of a GPU server and dedicated maintenance.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your application, the target AI feature (search, summary, suggestions) and access to your data, and we'll scope the integration with budget and API cost. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
