It writes.
First drafts of quotes, proposals, emails and reports in your tone, ready for a person to check and send.
For example: quotes drafted in minutes instead of an afternoon.
You know you need AI. Here's where to start.
In one free 30-minute call, I'll show you where AI could save your business time and money. Plain English, no jargon and no sales pitch. Plaincraft is an independent AI consultancy for South African SMEs.
- Free, no obligation
- No jargon
- Leave with ideas you can use
I know we need AI. I just don't know where to start.
We bought ChatGPT licences. Nobody uses them.
Our team re-types the same data into three systems.
Is our client data even safe in these tools?
Every vendor says their AI is the answer.
Quotes take us two days. Competitors take two hours.
AI, in plain English.
Forget the hype. In most businesses, AI is good at three jobs. If your team does any of them every week, you're probably losing time you could get back.
It reads.
It pulls the details out of invoices, contracts, CVs and forms, then puts them where they need to go.
For example: no more re-typing supplier invoices into your accounts.
It answers.
It replies to routine questions from customers or staff at any hour, using your own information.
For example: your price list and policies, answered instantly.
What it's not good at: decisions that need judgement, accountability or a real relationship. I'll show you exactly where those lines are.
Not sure which applies to you? Ask meWhat happens on the free call.
Thirty minutes on video. You don't need to prepare anything or know anything about AI.
Pick a time that suits you- 0–10 min
We talk about your business, not AI.
What your team spends time on, and what frustrates you.
- 10–25 min
I show you where AI fits, and where it doesn't.
Real examples from businesses like yours, explained simply.
- 25–30 min
You leave with clear next steps.
Whether or not we ever work together.
On site or remote, I work alongside your team. Not from behind a slide deck.
Seven services, one through-line: understand, plan, then build.
Start anywhere. Most clients begin with the audit, but you can bring me in at any stage.
Stage AUnderstand
AI readiness audit
Two weeks mapping how work actually gets done. Every opportunity is scored for value, effort and risk.
Vendor & tool selection
Independent advice on what to buy, what to build and what to skip. I take no referral fees.
Stage BPlan
Strategy & roadmap
A prioritised 12-month plan in plain English, with costs, owners and a clear “don't bother” list.
Governance, risk & policy
An AI usage policy your team will actually read, plus data handling aligned with POPIA.
Stage CBuild & embed
Automation & agent builds
Working automations built on tools you already pay for. Fully documented and fully yours.
Team training & workshops
Hands-on sessions built around your real work, not generic prompt tips.
Fractional Head of AI
Senior AI leadership a few days a month, for the price of a fraction of a hire.
Four steps. You can stop after any of them.
If we carry on after the call, the audit comes next. You get a one-page answer, not a 60-page report: what to automate, what to fix first and what to leave alone.
Readiness audit · sampleIllustrative
| Process | Hrs / week | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Quote preparation | 11 | Automate |
| Inbox triage | 7 | Assist |
| Month-end reconciliation | 9 | Automate |
| Client onboarding | 5 | Fix first |
| Hiring decisions | n/a | Not for AI |
- Free
Discovery call
30 minutes to understand your business and decide whether AI is even the right answer.
- ~2 weeks
Readiness audit
I talk to your team, map your processes and score every opportunity for value, effort and risk.
- 1 week
Roadmap
A short, prioritised plan you can act on with me, with someone else, or on your own.
- Ongoing
Build & embed
I build the first wins and train your team. If it helps, I stay on as your fractional Head of AI.
Plaincraft is new. Here's how I earn your trust anyway.
No client logo wall yet, and I won't fake one. What I can give you is a way of working that puts the risk on me rather than on you.
| Topic | Typical consultancy | Plaincraft |
|---|---|---|
| Who does the work | Juniors, after the senior pitch | Me, start to finish |
| How you pay | Day rates, open-ended | Fixed fee, agreed in writing |
| Tool advice | Shaped by partner deals | Independent. No referral fees. |
| What you own after | Licences and dependency | Everything: workflows, prompts, docs |
| Getting an answer | Via an account manager | A direct line to me |
My commitments to every client
- C/01
Scope in writing before any fee
You'll know exactly what you're getting, by when, for how much.
- C/02
An honest “no”
If AI won't pay back for you, I'll tell you on the first call and won't sell you anything.
- C/03
Your data stays yours
POPIA-aware by default. NDA on request, and nothing goes into model training without your consent.
- C/04
No lock-in
Every build is documented so your team, or another provider, can run it without me.
Just me. That's the point.
I'm [Your name], founder of Plaincraft. [One or two sentences on your background, e.g. years spent in operations, data or tech, and the kinds of problems you solved.]
I started Plaincraft because small businesses were being sold AI the same way enterprises are: big decks, long contracts, vague outcomes. SMEs need something different. Someone senior who learns how the business really works, builds what pays back, and then gets out of the way.
- Background
- [e.g. 10 years in operations & systems]
- Focus
- Practical AI adoption for SMEs
- Based in
- South Africa
I'm taking on five founding clients for 2027.
You get my full attention and founding-client terms. In return, once we've delivered results you're happy with, I'll ask to write the work up as a case study. Only with your sign-off.
Apply for a founding spotPlaincraft, the short version.
- What
- An independent AI consultancy. Strategy, automation, training and governance.
- Who for
- Small and medium-sized businesses with 10–250 staff.
- Where
- Based in South Africa, working remotely nationwide.
- How
- Fixed-fee projects, run personally by one senior consultant.
- First step
- A free 30-minute call. If AI isn't the answer, I'll say so.
Questions, answered straight.
Something not covered? hello@plaincraft.co.za
I don't really understand AI. Is that a problem?
Not at all. Most of the business owners I work with are in the same position. You don't need to learn the technology. You need someone who understands it and your business, and can explain it in plain English. That's my job.
What does an AI consultant actually do for a small business?
I work out which parts of your business would benefit from AI, which wouldn't, and what it would cost. In practice that means a readiness audit, a plain-English roadmap, then building the first automations with your team.
How much does AI consultancy cost?
Every engagement is fixed-fee and quoted in writing after a free 30-minute call. There's no hourly billing and there are no surprise invoices.
Is my business too small for AI?
Usually not. Businesses with 10 to 250 staff often see the fastest returns, because a few hours saved per person each week adds up quickly. If it isn't worth it for you, I'll tell you on the first call.
Will AI replace my staff?
My focus is removing repetitive admin so your people can spend their time on work that needs judgement. I design recommendations with your team, not around them.
How do you handle data privacy and POPIA?
Every recommendation is checked against POPIA. Your data stays in your own accounts wherever possible, nothing is used to train third-party models without consent, and you get a written AI usage policy.
Do you only work with South African businesses?
I'm based in South Africa and work remotely with businesses nationwide. International clients are welcome where time zones allow.
Why work with one consultant instead of an agency?
You deal with the person doing the work, from the first call to handover. There are no account managers, no hand-offs to juniors and no partner commissions influencing what I recommend.
Find out where AI fits in your business. In 30 minutes.
Book your free call
Free and no obligation. You'll leave with clear next steps, even if we never work together.