The quick version
How Clarvia Dev and Slalom position themselves — in their own words, and ours.
AI-first product development agency. We build and ship AI products with small, focused teams. Working software, delivered fast.
US-based management and technology consulting firm with 12,000+ employees and approximately $3B in annual revenue. Slalom has deep partnerships with AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and Salesforce, operates from 80+ US locations, and specialises in enterprise digital transformation, analytics, and cloud migration.
Detailed comparison
A fair, category-by-category breakdown of how Clarvia Dev and Slalom compare.
Clarvia Dev
AI product development. We build the actual software. From data pipelines to ML models to user-facing applications — we ship working AI products, not recommendations about what to build.
Slalom
Management and technology consulting. Slalom advises on strategy, runs change management, implements cloud platforms, and builds enterprise applications. Their AI services focus on enterprise analytics, data strategy, and cloud-based ML deployments.
Clarvia if you need someone to build an AI product. Slalom if you need management consulting and enterprise platform implementation that includes some AI.
Clarvia Dev
Custom AI products built for your specific problem. We select the right models, architecture, and approach based on what your product needs — not based on which cloud vendor we have a partnership with.
Slalom
Cloud-partner-aligned AI solutions. Slalom's AI work is closely tied to AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud platforms. This means deep implementation expertise with cloud-native ML services, which is a strong advantage if you are committed to a specific platform.
Clarvia if you want vendor-neutral AI architecture decisions. Slalom if you are already committed to a specific cloud platform and want deep implementation expertise on that platform.
Clarvia Dev
Lean, focused product teams. You work directly with senior engineers and product thinkers. Every person on your project is building something.
Slalom
Large consulting engagement model. Slalom staffs projects with a mix of senior consultants and junior associates. Engagements often include strategy, change management, training, and implementation phases. Each phase adds value but also adds time and cost.
Clarvia if you want a small team that builds fast. Slalom if you need enterprise change management, training, and organisational support alongside technology delivery.
Clarvia Dev
Working AI prototype in 2-4 weeks. We optimise for speed to first working software because that is where real learning starts. Fast iteration beats extensive planning for most AI products.
Slalom
Enterprise timelines. Slalom engagements typically run 3-12 months with multiple phases. This is appropriate for enterprise transformation where organisational change matters as much as technology. It is slow for a team that just needs an AI product built.
Clarvia for fast product delivery. Slalom for enterprise transformation that needs to bring an entire organisation along.
Clarvia Dev
Project-based pricing tied to specific deliverables. Transparent, predictable, and directly connected to product outcomes. No surprise bills for "strategy alignment workshops."
Slalom
Consulting-rate billing. As a premium US consultancy, Slalom's rates reflect enterprise-grade service delivery. Engagements may expand as strategy, change management, and training phases are added to the scope.
Clarvia for cost-efficient product delivery. Slalom if your budget accommodates enterprise consulting rates and you need the full organisational support package.
The honest recommendation
Both companies do good work. The right choice depends on what you actually need.
Choose Clarvia Dev when...
You need an AI product built and deployed, not a strategy document about AI
Your budget should go to engineering and product development, not consulting overhead
You want vendor-neutral technical recommendations, not cloud-partner-driven architecture
Speed to market matters — you need working software in weeks, not a multi-month engagement plan
You do not need change management or organisational transformation alongside the technology
Choose Slalom when...
You need enterprise-wide digital transformation that includes AI as one component
Change management and organisational readiness are as important as the technology itself
You are deeply invested in AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud and want a certified implementation partner
You need a large consulting firm with 80+ US offices for local presence
Your project requires enterprise governance, compliance frameworks, and executive stakeholder management
Common questions
Slalom is a $3B company. Can Clarvia really compete on quality?
Revenue does not equal product quality. Slalom's revenue comes from management consulting, cloud migrations, and enterprise platform work — not primarily from AI product development. For building AI products specifically, a focused agency with deep AI expertise often outperforms a large consulting firm where AI is one practice among dozens.
Does Slalom's cloud partnership give them better AI capabilities?
Slalom's partnerships with AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud give them deep knowledge of those platforms' ML services. That is genuinely valuable if you are committed to a specific cloud. The trade-off is that partner-aligned consultancies tend to recommend platform-native solutions even when better alternatives exist. Clarvia evaluates all options and recommends what is best for your product, not what satisfies a partner relationship.
What if I need both strategy and product development?
If you need large-scale enterprise AI strategy involving executive alignment, organisational change, and multi-department rollouts — Slalom is well-suited. If you need a clear AI product strategy followed by rapid building and shipping, Clarvia covers both without the consulting overhead. We do strategy too, but it is product strategy that leads directly to working software.
Can Clarvia work alongside Slalom on a project?
Yes. Some companies use a large consultancy for enterprise strategy and change management while engaging a specialised agency for the actual AI product build. Clarvia can handle the product development workstream while Slalom handles organisational readiness. The two are complementary, not competing.
Want an AI product built, not a consulting engagement?
Book a free 30-minute call. We will discuss your AI product and show you what fast, focused delivery looks like.