Timeline & Delivery
How long AI agent and RAG engagements typically take, what milestones look like, and when first production traffic is realistic.
Overview
Timeline questions usually come down to when the agent can carry real production traffic and how the work is sequenced to get there safely. DevStudio runs a five-phase delivery model with the eval set built in week one, so accuracy is measurable before any production code merges. This page covers realistic durations, phase-by-phase milestones, and where a timeline can responsibly compress.
Key things to know about timeline
First production traffic is typically week 12-14
For a focused first agent on a well-scoped workflow with available eval data, first production traffic lands around week 12-14, with the first measurable business result inside four weeks of cutover.
Five phases, eval set first
Discovery, eval-set construction, architecture and tool integration, hardening and supervised pilot, then production launch with a 6-month QA window. The eval set is built in week one before any production code merges.
Compression has limits
A focused single-integration workflow with clean data can ship in 6-8 weeks; multi-integration regulated workflows need 14-18 weeks. Compressing past 6 weeks usually means cutting eval discipline, which is the wrong trade.