How to Choose the Right AI Automation Vendor in India
The Indian AI market has 5,000+ vendors claiming to do everything. Here is the no-nonsense checklist for finding the one that will actually deliver results for your business.
Talk to MNB ResearchThe 10-Question Vendor Evaluation Checklist
1. Industry-Specific Experience
Ask for 3+ case studies in YOUR specific industry — not generic manufacturing or tech. If they cannot show textile AI case studies for a textile company, they will be learning on your budget.
2. Implementation Approach
Demand a clear 30-60-90 day implementation plan with specific milestones. Vague "we will customize our platform" responses are red flags.
3. ROI Commitment
The best vendors will commit to specific, measurable outcomes — not just "improved efficiency." Ask: what exact metric will improve, by how much, in what timeframe?
4. Local Presence
Remote-only vendors struggle with the on-site calibration and training that Indian manufacturing deployments require. Ask for local support commitments.
5. Reference Clients
Insist on speaking with 2-3 reference clients in your industry. Good vendors are proud of their results and willing to connect you. Bad vendors make excuses.
6. Data Security
Your production data, quality records, and customer data are valuable. Ask specifically: where is data stored, who can access it, and what happens to your data if you exit the contract?
7. Pricing Transparency
Total cost of ownership — not just license fees. Implementation costs, training costs, integration costs, ongoing support costs. Get all of it in writing before signing.
8. Exit Flexibility
Can you export your data and models if you leave? Are you locked into proprietary formats? Good vendors give you flexibility; bad vendors use lock-in as retention strategy.
Red Flags to Avoid
- 🚩 "We do everything for every industry" — Real AI expertise is specialized, not generic
- 🚩 No reference clients willing to speak — Why are past clients not proud of the results?
- 🚩 Vague ROI promises — "Significant improvement" is not a commitment
- 🚩 12+ month implementation timelines — Modern AI deployment should show results in 30-60 days
- 🚩 No pilot or proof of concept offering — Confident vendors offer pilots; uncertain ones demand full commitment
- Why MNB Research Passes Every Test — We offer industry-specific case studies, ROI guarantees, 30-day pilots, local teams, and transparent pricing. Ask us anything on this list.