How AI agencies can scope automation and RAG projects before build time disappears

Agencies that build AI automations, RAG systems, and agent workflows usually do not lose margin because the first demo was hard. They lose margin earlier: the client goal is real, but the first milestone is too wide; the source material is not ready for retrieval; the team agrees to "automate the workflow" before naming the approval gate; the quote assumes clean inputs and discovers messy edge cases after the kickoff; the implementation team inherits a scope that was sold as simple. The exp...