Pertama Partners
Alternatives Guide

Avensys Alternatives for AI Transformation

Avensys's Hire.Train.Deploy model places external AI talent in your company. If you'd rather build your existing team's AI capability, these alternatives take a different approach.

Why Look for Avensys Alternatives?

You want to upskill existing employees, not hire external talent
You prefer building internal capability over staffing solutions
You need government funding for AI training (not talent placement)
You want AI consulting without ongoing staffing commitments
You prefer a project-based model over talent deployment
You need broader AI strategy alongside implementation

What to Consider When Switching from Avensys

When evaluating alternatives to Avensys, it's important to look beyond surface-level comparisons. The right AI consulting partner should align with your organisation's size, budget, timeline, and strategic objectives. Many companies initially gravitate toward large-name consultancies for their brand recognition and global reach. However, this often means higher costs, slower engagement timelines, and frameworks designed for Fortune 500 enterprises — not the agile, results-oriented approach that mid-market companies need. Key pain points that drive companies to seek alternatives include opaque pricing structures, lack of hands-on implementation support, generic recommendations that don't account for Asia-Pacific regulatory environments, and consultant dependency that never leads to internal capability building. The ideal partner combines strategic advisory with practical implementation, offers transparent pricing, provides genuine knowledge transfer to your team, and has deep expertise in your specific industry and geographic context.
Pricing Transparency

How clearly the firm communicates costs upfront. Look for fixed-fee engagements vs open-ended time-and-materials billing.

SMB Focus

Whether the firm genuinely serves small-to-mid-size companies or treats them as secondary to enterprise accounts.

Local Presence in Asia-Pacific

On-the-ground teams who understand regional regulations, languages, and business culture — not just a regional office.

Implementation vs Strategy Only

Does the firm help you build and deploy AI, or just hand over a slide deck? Execution capability separates advisors from consultants.

Team Training & Enablement

Post-engagement knowledge transfer ensures your team can maintain and extend AI initiatives without ongoing consultant dependency.

Industry-Specific AI Expertise

Generic AI knowledge is insufficient. Look for firms with deep domain expertise in your specific industry vertical.

Best Avensys Alternatives

Pertama Partners
Top Pick
AI Training & Advisory for SMB in Southeast Asia

Builds your existing team's AI capability through training + implementation. No external staffing dependency.

Key Strengths:

  • Upskills your existing team (not external hires)
  • Government-funded training programs
  • No ongoing staffing commitments
  • Training → Implementation → Engineering path
  • Knowledge stays in your organization

Best for: SMB wanting to build lasting internal AI capability

YCP Group
Premier AI consultant in Singapore

Enterprise consulting with APAC reach. Advisory and strategy focus without staffing model.

Key Strengths:

  • 21 APAC offices
  • Enterprise advisory capabilities
  • Strategy-focused approach

Best for: Mid-market companies wanting strategic AI advisory

Intersect AI
Planning + delivery bridge, ROI-focused

ROI-focused AI consulting with strategy-to-delivery bridge. Implementation without talent placement.

Key Strengths:

  • Strong ROI methodology
  • Strategy-to-delivery bridge
  • Implementation without staffing

Best for: Companies wanting ROI accountability in AI projects

Side-by-Side Comparison

FirmTarget MarketPrice PointGeographyBest For
AvensysEnterpriseMid-MarketSingapore, Southeast AsiaEnd-to-end transformation, Hire.Train.Deploy
Pertama PartnersTop PickSMBMid-MarketSingapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, VietnamSMB wanting to build lasting internal AI capability
YCP GroupEnterprisePremiumSingapore, Asia-PacificMid-market companies wanting strategic AI advisory
Intersect AIEnterprisePremiumGlobalCompanies wanting ROI accountability in AI projects

Frequently Asked Questions

Is hiring external AI talent always bad?

No. If you have urgent AI needs and can't recruit, Avensys's Hire.Train.Deploy model solves a real problem. But for long-term capability building, upskilling existing employees who already know your business typically delivers better sustained results.

Can I combine internal training with external talent?

Yes — this is often the best approach. Use Pertama to train your existing team on AI fundamentals and strategy, then bring in specialized external talent (via Avensys or other staffing firms) for specific technical gaps. Your trained team can better manage and direct external talent.

Which approach builds more sustainable AI capability?

Internal training builds more sustainable capability. Your employees know your business, stay longer (typically), and share knowledge across the organization. External talent placement is faster but knowledge can leave when the placed talent moves on.

Related Comparisons

Pertama vs Avensys: AI Consulting in Southeast Asia
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