What is an AI solution for business?
An AI solution for business is custom software that uses artificial intelligence to automate tasks, extract insights from data, or interact with users in a natural way. Examples include chatbots that answer customer questions, systems that automatically extract data from invoices, dashboards that predict future sales, and tools that process and categorize thousands of text responses. Purba Tech Labs builds these tools specifically for Nepali businesses - integrated into your existing operations.
How much does AI development cost in Nepal?
AI development in Nepal costs between NPR 60,000 and NPR 5,00,000+ depending on the type and complexity. A website or WhatsApp AI chatbot starts at NPR 60,000-1,50,000. A business process automation system costs NPR 1,50,000-4,00,000. A custom AI platform with ML model training costs NPR 4,00,000 and above. There are also ongoing API costs (OpenAI, Claude) of approximately NPR 2,000-20,000 per month depending on usage volume. Purba Tech Labs provides a full cost breakdown including estimated running costs before any work begins.
Can AI work for a small business or cooperative in Nepal?
Yes. AI is no longer only for large corporations. Small businesses, cooperatives, clinics, and schools across Nepal are now deploying AI tools that save significant staff time and reduce operational costs. The most common entry point is an AI chatbot for customer queries or an automation pipeline for a single repetitive process - both of which are accessible at under NPR 1,50,000.
What is the difference between AI and automation?
Traditional automation follows fixed rules - "if invoice arrives, extract fields A, B, C." AI-based automation can handle variation - invoices in different formats, questions phrased in unexpected ways, documents with inconsistent layouts. AI is used when the task involves understanding language, images, or patterns that cannot be captured by simple rules. Many practical solutions combine both: rule-based automation for structured tasks, AI for the unstructured exceptions.
Do you use ChatGPT / OpenAI for your AI solutions?
Yes, we use OpenAI's GPT-4o and Anthropic's Claude as primary LLMs depending on the use case. We are model-agnostic - we choose the best model for each task. For customer-facing chatbots, GPT-4o or Claude are typically used. For document analysis, Claude performs particularly well on long documents. For on-premise deployments where data cannot leave your servers, we use open-source models like Meta's LLaMA.
Can you build an AI chatbot in Nepali language?
Yes. Modern LLMs including GPT-4o and Claude have strong Nepali language capability. We can build chatbots that understand and respond in Nepali (Devanagari), English, or both. We test language quality specifically for Nepali before deployment and can fine-tune responses for regional terminology relevant to your business.
Can you integrate AI into my existing software or website?
Yes. AI integration into existing systems is one of our most common project types. If your existing website, ERP, or software has an API - or even if it does not - we can add AI capabilities without rebuilding the entire system. We build an AI middleware layer that connects to your existing tools and adds the specific intelligence you need.
Is my business data safe when used for AI?
Yes, with the right safeguards. We work under NDA for all AI projects. Data used for training or fine-tuning is handled according to agreed data handling protocols and deleted after project completion unless otherwise specified. For businesses in sensitive industries (healthcare, finance, government), we offer on-premise AI deployment using open-source models - your data never leaves your servers.
How long does it take to build an AI solution?
A chatbot integration takes 3-6 weeks. A business process automation system takes 6-12 weeks. A full custom AI platform takes 12-24 weeks. Timelines include data preparation, model development or integration, testing, and deployment. The data preparation phase is often the longest - the quality and availability of your data determines how quickly we can build.
What is RAG and do I need it?
RAG stands for Retrieval-Augmented Generation. It is a technique where an AI chatbot or assistant searches through your own documents, manuals, policies, or databases to find relevant information before generating an answer - rather than relying only on what the LLM was trained on. If you need an AI that answers questions specifically about your products, procedures, or data (not general knowledge), RAG is the right approach. We build RAG systems commonly for cooperatives, hospitals, and businesses with large internal document libraries.
Can AI replace my staff?
AI is best understood as a tool that removes repetitive, low-judgment work from your staff - freeing them for higher-value tasks. It is not a replacement for human judgment in complex, high-stakes, or relationship-based work. A chatbot can handle 80% of routine customer queries; your staff handles the 20% that need real human empathy or expertise. We are honest about this distinction in every project - over-automating can damage customer relationships.
How do I know if AI is right for my business?
The best way is a free AI readiness assessment - a 45-minute call where we look at your current processes, identify the highest-value automation or AI opportunities, and give you an honest opinion on feasibility and ROI. We will tell you if AI is not the right fit and suggest a simpler solution if one exists. There is no commitment required.