Blog · 2 October 2026 · 7 min read
Who installs local AI for companies in Italy: how to choose
When you are looking for someone to install a local AI, the first instinct is to look close to home. But few companies genuinely install artificial intelligence on the client's servers, and distance matters less than other things. Here is what to check before signing a quote.
In short: when choosing who installs a local AI, three things matter more than distance: that the AI runs genuinely on your computers and not on a cloud service, that the supplier comes on site for the site survey, installation and training, and that after launch they guarantee support with written response times. Dabryx installs local AI on site throughout Italy: our office is in Rocca Priora (Rome), but the site survey, installation and training are carried out in person at the client's company, wherever it is.
First question: is it really a local AI?
Many companies that "work with AI" build assistants, agents and automations that actually send data to a cloud service. There is nothing wrong with that, but it is not a local AI: your documents leave the company.
An AI is local when the model runs on a computer that you control: a server or a Mac at your premises, or a machine in a data centre in your name. Three questions to the supplier are enough to find out:
- Which computer does the model run on? The answer must be a specific machine, yours, not the name of a service.
- Does it work without the internet? Ask for the network cable to be unplugged during the demo: a local AI keeps answering.
- Are there any "cloud" models in the configuration? Even tools designed for local use now offer models that run on the vendor's servers: these must be excluded if the aim is to keep your data on site.
The 7 things to check in a supplier
- They install on your servers or Macs. This must be stated in the proposal, together with the names of the software used (for example Ollama and Open WebUI) and of the models.
- They run a demo on your documents. A demo on sample data tells you little: ask for a trial on a real manual, contract or price list.
- They come on site. The site survey, installation and training work better in person: you need to see the network, where the computer will sit and how your colleagues work.
- They itemise the quote. Hardware, hours of work and support must be separate lines. The hardware remains your property.
- They secure access. Personal accounts, permissions by department, backups and access from outside the office only through a private network (VPN), never with ports open to the internet.
- They train your staff. The AI Act requires companies to take measures to ensure AI literacy among those who use it: documented training at launch is a step in this direction.
- They guarantee support after launch. Written response times, updates to software and models, and a data processing agreement if the supplier accesses your systems for maintenance (Article 28 of the GDPR).
Tip: also ask what happens if you change supplier. With open source software and hardware that you own, the installation remains yours and another technician can take it over.
What is done on site and what remotely
A local AI project has phases that require being there in person and phases that are better carried out remotely. You need to be on site in the first few days, not every day:
| Phase | Where | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Initial discussion | Video call or on site | Understanding goals, data and number of users |
| Site survey | On site | Network, location of the computer, software already in use |
| Installation and connection to your data | On site | Hardware, private network, company folders and management software |
| Staff training | On site | People learn better on their own cases, with live questions |
| Updates and checks | Remotely, over a private network | Short, frequent interventions, with no waiting |
| Support | Remotely, on site if needed | Most problems are solved remotely in a few minutes |
Remote support does not contradict the idea of local AI: the technician connects to the machine through a private network, but documents and conversations stay on your computer.
When proximity really matters
Having the supplier a few kilometres away is convenient, but it is decisive only in a few cases:
- It matters if you need someone to work physically on the hardware the same day, for example for a server room with many machines.
- It matters little for a server or a Mac running an AI for the office: hardware faults are rare and covered by the manufacturer's warranty, while software and models are managed remotely.
- It does not matter for the quality of the result, which depends on how well the supplier knows open models, security and your processes.
In practice: a supplier that genuinely installs locally and comes to you on the days it is needed is better than a nearby one offering a cloud service under another name.
How we work: on site, throughout Italy
Dabryx is based in Rocca Priora, just outside Rome, and works with companies throughout Italy. We have clients in Lazio (Rome, Colleferro), in Emilia-Romagna (Salsomaggiore Terme, in the province of Parma) and in London, and we work on projects in several countries, such as the staff management software for Pinko.
For local AI we come to your company in person:
- Site survey and analysis: we look at your network, computers and documents, and choose the first use cases together.
- Installation on a company server or Mac, with personal accounts, permissions, backups and a private network.
- Training for staff on the company's real cases.
- Support with dedicated tickets and a reply within 2 hours on working days; remote updates and a return visit on site when needed.
Consultancy starts from €100 per hour; the hardware is purchased separately and remains the company's property. You will find the details on the Local AI for companies page and the cost items in the cost guide. If you would like to try it yourself first, there is the step-by-step guide.
Frequently asked questions
Does Dabryx install local AI throughout Italy?
Yes. Our office is in Rocca Priora (Rome), but the site survey, installation and training are carried out in person at the client's company, throughout Italy. Updates and support continue remotely over a private network.
Does the local AI supplier have to be in my city?
No. What matters is that they genuinely install on your computers, that they come on site on the days of the site survey, installation and training, and that they guarantee support with written response times. Routine maintenance is done remotely.
How can I tell whether a supplier is offering a genuine local AI?
Ask which computer the model runs on and run a test without an internet connection: a local AI keeps answering. If the service stops working, the data is being processed in the cloud.
How many days on site does it take to install a local AI?
It depends on the project. A company installation with accounts, a private network, backups, connected documents and training usually takes a few days of work, partly on site and partly remotely.
Want an estimate for your company?
Tell us how many people will use the AI and what for: we'll tell you which configuration you need.
Response times
Within 2 hours on business days (9:00–18:00) for clients with a support contract.
AI consulting
From €100 per hour, on your company's servers or Macs.
Where we work
Throughout Italy: we come on site to the client's premises and also support you remotely.