Every second business we talk to says the same thing. We know AI matters. We do not know where to start. We do not have the people internally to figure it out. And we are too busy running the business to stop and think about it properly.
That is exactly the problem a fractional AI officer solves.
What it is
A fractional AIO is senior AI leadership for your business on a part-time, ongoing basis. Largely remote. Plugged into your leadership team. At Howll AI that means regular time with Josh or Dirk for the owner and the leadership team, advising on where AI fits, what to do first, and how to govern it, with a clear connection to commercial outcomes.
This is not a consultant who writes a report and leaves. This is someone who stays with your leadership team month after month, guiding the trajectory of AI across the organisation. The AIO advises. The work inside the business is done by an operator, through an Embedded engagement.
What gets done in month 1
The first month is about understanding. Not implementing. Not selling tools. Understanding.
A fractional AIO will typically cover:
Governance. Does the business have an AI usage policy? Do people know what they can and cannot do with AI tools? If the answer is no, that is the first thing to put in place. Clear, practical governance that protects the business without slowing it down.
Quick wins. Where is the team already using AI informally? Where are there manual processes that could be improved in days, not months? The fractional AIO identifies 2 to 3 things that can be done immediately to show value and build momentum.
Risk mapping. What data is being sent to cloud AI providers? Who has access to what? Are there compliance gaps? This is not about creating fear. It is about knowing where the business stands so decisions can be made with full information.
Team readiness. Most teams are either not using AI at all or using it badly. A fractional AIO advises the leadership team on how to roll AI out properly, so people get comfortable with the technology and confident in applying it to their actual work.
What happens after month 1
Month 2 and beyond is about direction. The fractional AIO works with the leadership team to develop a clear AI roadmap tied to the business plan. Not a generic strategy document. A working plan that says: here is what we are doing, here is why, here is the expected return, and here is how we measure it.
Ongoing responsibilities include:
- Monthly reporting to leadership on AI initiatives and ROI
- Implementation guidance on tools and workflows
- Vendor evaluation (without pushing any single provider)
- Advice on rolling AI out across the team
- Governance updates as regulations change
- Planning the path toward private AI if the business needs it
Who it is for
A fractional AIO is for businesses that are not ready for a full embedded AI team but know they need someone at the wheel. Typically 20 to 200 employees. Revenue between $5 million and $100 million. A leadership team that knows AI is important but does not have the internal capability to drive it.
It is also for businesses that have already tried AI and failed. The ones who bought a tool, nobody used it, and now the organisation is sceptical. A fractional AIO fixes that by tying everything back to outcomes that the business actually cares about.
What it costs
The Howll AI Fractional AIO is a monthly retainer, with ongoing access and accountability across the month.
We measure ourselves on the return we create together. If the engagement is not delivering value, it should not continue. That is how we operate.
See what the Fractional AIO covers. If you want the work done inside the business as well as the advice, that is the Embedded engagement.