Proof of Concept
Stop Guessing. Start Validating.
If you've ever sat through months of workshops, requirements documents and proposals only to discover the final solution wasn't quite what you expected, you're not alone.
Most failed technology projects were approved on assumptions. Months of workshops, requirement documents and proposals, and the thing that gets built is not quite the thing anyone pictured.
A Proof of Concept replaces the assumptions with evidence. It is a paid, time-boxed engagement where we build a working prototype using your processes, your data structures and your objectives, so you can test the solution rather than imagine it.
You get a decision backed by something you have actually used. We get confirmation the project is technically achievable and commercially viable. Neither of us finds out the hard way.
Not sure it
will work?
That is the point. A POC is designed to answer that question in weeks, not after a six figure commitment.
WHEN A POC IS THE RIGHT STARTING POINT
A POC is not a formality before every project. It earns its place when the risk sits in the unknowns.
- The requirement is clear but the solution is not
- Multiple stakeholders need to agree before budget is released
- Integration with existing systems is unproven
- You are exploring AI and cannot yet see where the value lands
- A previous project delivered something that did not fit
- The investment is large enough that being wrong is expensive
If the answer is already obvious, we will tell you to skip it and go straight to implementation.
What Does a POC Typically Include?
Every organisation is different, but a typical Avrion Proof of Concept includes:
- Discovery and Scoping - We work with key stakeholders to understand processes, challenges, objectives and existing systems.
- Prototype Build - Using Microsoft technologies, automation platforms and AI tools where appropriate, we create a working demonstration of the proposed solution.
- Validation Workshops - We review the prototype with your team, check assumptions and refine requirements.
- Technical Assessment - We identify integration requirements, data considerations, workflows, reporting needs and implementation complexity.
- Recommendation and Roadmap - At the end of the process, you'll receive a clear recommendation, implementation approach and fixed project proposal.
Why Customers Choose a POC First
- Reduce Project Risk - Validate the solution before committing to a full implementation.
- Gain Stakeholder Buy-In - A working demonstration makes it easier for users, managers and directors to visualise the end result.
- Accelerate Decision Making - People make decisions faster when they can interact with something real rather than reviewing lengthy documents.
- Confirm Requirements Early - Identify misunderstandings before they become costly delivery challenges.
- Build Confidence - Know that the proposed solution fits both your operational needs and your budget.
A Different Way to Deliver Technology Projects
Not every Proof of Concept ends in a project, and that is not a failure.
If the prototype shows the solution will not deliver what you need, or that the integration is more complex than the return justifies, we will say so. You will have found out for the cost of a POC rather than the cost of a full implementation, and you will still have the technical assessment and the roadmap to inform whatever you do next.
A POC that stops a bad project has paid for itself several times over.
A Different Way to Deliver Technology Projects
Modern development tools and AI now allow us to build realistic prototypes far faster than traditional software projects.
In many cases, we can demonstrate around 70% of the proposed solution during the Proof of Concept phase.
Instead of spending months discussing requirements, we can:
Build a demonstrator quickly
Validate our understanding of your business
Refine requirements together
Prove the solution is the right fit
Create a clear roadmap for implementation
The result is a faster, lower-risk route to digital transformation.
Why we Believe in Proofs of Concept
At Avrion, Proofs of Concept have become one of our most effective ways of helping organisations make informed technology decisions.
They help us move beyond lengthy proposal documents and into practical demonstrations of value.
For our customers, a POC provides reassurance that the solution fits their business.
For us, it confirms that the project is technically achievable, commercially viable and aligned to your objectives.
We often describe a POC as insurance for both customer and supplier.
Because everyone gains confidence before larger budgets and commitments are approved.
Why Our POCs Are Paid
We believe the most successful projects start with commitment from both sides.
A paid Proof of Concept creates a shared investment in achieving the right outcome.
It ensures we have access to key stakeholders and decision-makers, provides the time needed to conduct meaningful analysis, and allows us to build something genuinely valuable rather than producing high-level proposals.
In our experience, customers who invest in a POC remain more engaged throughout the project and achieve better outcomes as a result.
Our commitment to you is that our Proof of Concepts are 50% of our usual rates.
Success Story
One of our most successful recent Proofs of Concept was delivered for a building contractor & refurbishment specialist.
The POC explored:
- Tender management
- Project initiation
- Project management
- Commercial tracking
- Subcontractor management
- Sage 50 integration concepts
- Reporting and financial visibility
The prototype enabled stakeholders to see how the solution would operate in practice, validate the project scope and build confidence in the proposed approach. The result was approval to proceed with a full implementation project and identification of additional future phases of work. The initial POC included a working system demonstrating core project, subcontractor and commercial modules, along with real-life workflows and data flows designed to reflect the final solution.
Recent Proof of Concept Engagements
Our POC methodology has been successfully applied across a range of organisations and requirements:
IT Lifecycle and Asset Management
Requirements gathering, stakeholder workshops and a sandbox CRM build, delivering functional requirements documentation before any development commitment.
Electronics Manufacturing and Distribution
Business objective definition and technical integration assessment across commercial, industrial and military markets, with a prototype CRM and phased rollout plan.
Weather Protection Systems
Initial scoping and prototype CRM configuration, validated through demonstrations and workflow review sessions with the operational team.
Construction and Engineering
Requirements gathering, workflow analysis, prototype CRM build, demonstrations and detailed functional specification for phased implementation.
Multi-Company Group
Business objectives review, technical integration assessment, rollout planning, workflow analysis and prototype CRM build validating a cross-group CRM strategy.
Proven in Practice
A building contractor and refurbishment specialist came to us with a broad requirement and no clear scope. Rather than spend months documenting it, we built a working prototype.
The POC covered:
- Tender management
- Project initiation and management
- Commercial tracking
- Subcontractor management
- Reporting and financial visibility
Stakeholders could see the solution operating with real workflows and data flows. The scope was validated, the full implementation was approved, and additional phases of work were identified that nobody had scoped at the outset.
Have an idea worth testing?
One conversation will tell us whether a Proof of Concept is the right next step for you.
We will help you:
- Define what actually needs proving
- Scope a POC around that, and nothing more
- Understand the cost and timeline before you commit
- Decide whether to proceed, adjust or stop
