Comparison · How we differ

Engineering-led AI vs advisory-led AI.

Big 4 firms are strong at enterprise transformation strategy. DehazeLabs builds the actual systems. Here's an honest comparison of when each model makes sense — and where the differences matter most for AI in the physical economy.

→ What Big 4 does well

Enterprise transformation strategy, multi-stakeholder alignment, change management, regulatory and compliance navigation, and the organizational capabilities needed to drive AI adoption across a large enterprise. If your primary challenge is getting organizational buy-in for an AI program or navigating a complex procurement process, Big 4 firms have deep experience.

→ Where DehazeLabs fits

We build production systems. Telemetry pipelines that process millions of events per second. CV inference platforms that run at smart-city scale. Agentic operations layers that execute real remediation. The gap between a consulting deck recommending "agentic operations" and an agentic operations system that works safely in production is an engineering gap — that's where we operate.

Factor	Big 4 AI Practice	DehazeLabs
Primary output	Strategy decks, roadmaps, assessments	Production systems, deployed and operating
Team model	Senior partners + junior analyst pyramid	Embedded engineers, US lead + SA bench
Billing model	$300–600/hr, time-and-materials	Milestone-based, $300K–$4M engagements
Production infra AI depth	Varies by practice; often advisory-heavy	Core competency — T-Mobile, Hayden AI, EdgeTelemetry
Time to production	Often 12–24 months for complex programs	First production capability in 8–12 weeks
Post-launch operation	Typically hands-off after delivery	Ongoing platform operation available

→ Related reading

Forward deployed engineering → DehazeLabs vs in-house AI team → DehazeLabs vs offshore AI staffing → How our engagements work → About DehazeLabs →

[ FAQ ]

Questions about choosing the right AI partner.

When should I use a firm like DehazeLabs instead of a Big 4 for AI?

When you need production AI engineering, not an AI strategy assessment. Big 4 firms are strong at enterprise transformation strategy, organizational change management, and multi-stakeholder alignment. DehazeLabs builds the actual systems: telemetry pipelines, inference pipelines, agentic operations layers. If you need someone to build and operate the AI platform, not advise on it, that's where we fit.

How do cost structures compare between DehazeLabs and Big 4 AI engagements?

Big 4 AI engagements typically bill at $300–600/hour for senior practitioners and often staff with junior consultants at senior rates. DehazeLabs engagements are $300K–$4M total, structured around delivery milestones rather than hourly billing. Our US–South Asia delivery model means North American clients get senior engineering at rates that reflect our cost structure, not a US-only billing model padded with junior hours.

Do Big 4 firms actually have the AI engineering depth for production infrastructure AI?

Some do, in specialized practices. But the production infrastructure AI work we do — GPU telemetry pipelines, real-time SIEM at telco scale, CV inference for smart cities — requires engineers who've shipped these systems before, not consultants who've built decks about them. The question is whether the team you get has the specific production engineering background your project requires. We think that's worth asking directly.

Want to understand if DehazeLabs is the right fit?

We'll tell you honestly in the first conversation whether we're the right team for your problem — and what we'd need to deliver if we are. No pitch deck required.

Schedule a conversation → How we work