Comparison · Training / adoption
One-off AI workshop or ongoing mentoring
A single course sparks interest; a continuous path changes habits. What it really takes to adopt AI in a company.
In brief
A one-off workshop is the right choice to build basic AI literacy fast and cheaply, but on its own it rarely changes how people actually work day to day. Ongoing mentoring costs more but is what drives real adoption, because it supports people on their actual use cases for months. For most SMEs a mix works best: a workshop to start, followed by mentoring on the processes that truly matter.
Option A
One-off AI workshop
One or more focused training days on AI, with theory, demos and hands-on exercises, that begin and end with the event itself.
Pros
- +Low, predictable cost: a single expense, not recurring
- +Fast to organise and to launch
- +Quickly raises basic awareness of what AI can and cannot do
- +Useful as a first step to document the training the AI Act requires
Cons
- −The effect fades fast: without guided practice most of it is forgotten within weeks
- −It rarely changes daily working habits
- −It doesn't address the specific use cases of your business processes
- −Anyone left behind or with doubts afterwards has no point of reference
Best for
- Companies starting from scratch that want fast literacy
- Those with a limited budget who want to test the team's interest
- Small teams with simple, already-clear use cases
Option B
Ongoing AI mentoring path
A monthly accompaniment that follows the team on real use cases, with recurring sessions, workflow reviews and continuous support.
Pros
- +Drives real adoption: skills stick because they're applied to actual work
- +Addresses the company's specific processes, not generic examples
- +People have someone to ask when they get stuck
- +With Soraia it frees on average 110 hours/year per person on the tracked use cases
Cons
- −Higher, recurring cost
- −Requires ongoing time from people, not just one day
- −Needs an internal sponsor to keep the path alive
- −The value depends on the team's willingness to engage over time
Best for
- Companies that want to genuinely change how they work, not just inform
- Those with core processes where AI can free hours every week
- Teams that have already done a first workshop and want to move to practice
| Criterion | One-off AI workshop | Ongoing AI mentoring path |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Single contained expense | From €3,000/month |
| Impact on adoption | Awareness, but it fades fast | Habits that consolidate over time |
| Use cases | Generic / illustrative | Specific to business processes |
| Support after class | None | Continuous, with a reference person |
| Time required from team | One or a few days | Recurring sessions over months |
| AI Act coverage | Documentable base training | Continuous, traceable training |
The verdict
It's not either/or: they're two stages of the same journey. A one-off workshop is the right, low-cost way to start, raise awareness and cover the base training the AI Act requires. But if you stop there, little remains after a few weeks: habits simply don't change without guided practice. Ongoing mentoring costs more but is what turns interest into real adoption, because it follows people on the processes that matter most. For most SMEs it makes sense to start with the workshop and continue with mentoring precisely on the use cases where AI frees the most hours.
FAQ
What people usually ask us.
Is a single workshop enough to comply with the AI Act?
Why does a workshop alone often change nothing?
How much does ongoing mentoring cost compared to a workshop?
Can I start with the workshop and add mentoring later?
Not sure which one fits your case?
20 minutes with the CEO to work out the right choice for your processes. No pitch, no obligation.
