Looking for the top AI automation agencies in Chicago to drive innovation and efficiency in your business?
Chicago is a thriving tech hub where enterprises and startups alike are leveraging artificial intelligence to streamline operations, enhance customer experiences, and boost productivity. Whether you’re aiming to implement intelligent chatbots for customer service, automate data-driven workflows, or integrate machine learning into your products, partnering with the right AI automation agency can make all the difference.
We’ve researched the Chicago market to identify firms with deep expertise in AI and automation – from boutique consultancies to global technology partners. These agencies have proven track records in deploying AI solutions such as predictive analytics, custom machine learning models, process automation (RPA), and generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot. Below is our curated list of the top 15 AI automation agencies in Chicago (for 2025), including leading firms known for their technical prowess, strategic approach, and client-focused results.
UFO
- Website: uforocks.com
- Founded: 2007
- Services: SEO, PPC, social advertising, conversion optimization, email marketing
- Industries served: eCommerce, business services, medical, legal, consumer products & services
- Locations: Cincinnati, OH; Columbus, OH; Portland, OR
- Contact: (513) 549‑7355 | [email protected]
UFO Performance Marketing describes itself as an engineering firm for marketing, using experimental design and measurement frameworks to tie performance back to revenue. Founded in 2007, the agency combines strategic thinking with technological expertise to deliver custom pay-per-click (PPC), SEO, and full‑funnel digital strategies. While not Chicago-based, UFO’s data-driven approach and use of automation in campaign optimization make them a notable inclusion. The firm leverages AI-driven analytics and conversion optimization techniques to maximize ROI, acting as a high-tech marketing partner for clients nationwide.
Xcelacore
- Website: xcelacore.com
- Founded: 2015
- Services: AI integration, workflow automation, custom software development, cloud & DevOps
- Industries served: Fintech, healthcare, eCommerce, manufacturing, education
- Locations: Oak Brook, IL
- Contact: (888) 773‑2081 | [email protected]
Xcelacore is a standout in Chicago’s tech scene for one simple reason: they don’t just implement AI, they make it work for business. Their team focuses on practical, strategic applications of artificial intelligence, helping companies across industries automate what matters most. From integrating tools like Microsoft’s Copilot into daily workflows to building smart support chatbots and auto-generating internal reports, Xcelacore delivers AI solutions with precision. What sets them apart is the balance of strategy and speed—they begin with a client’s pain points, identify high-impact automation opportunities, and rapidly deploy solutions in an agile manner. Trusted by firms in regulated sectors (like finance and healthcare), Xcelacore brings both technical fluency and a clear ROI focus to every AI project.
Tandem
- Website: madeintandem.com
- Founded: 2011
- Services: Custom software & app development, AI solution design, UX/UI design, digital consulting
- Industries served: Healthcare, education, government, professional services
- Locations: Chicago, IL (HQ); San Francisco, CA
- Contact: (312) 273‑9711 | [email protected]
Tandem is known for its hands-on approach to building software that truly fits a company’s workflow. While not strictly an “AI-first” agency, Tandem excels at understanding complex business processes and designing smart, automated solutions around them. They don’t rush to slap AI onto every project; instead, their team conducts deep discovery to determine where (and if) machine learning or automation will genuinely add value. Tandem’s human-centered design philosophy ensures that any AI tools they implement are intuitive and embraced by end-users. From enhancing internal tools with AI-driven features to integrating new systems with legacy platforms, Tandem’s thoughtful process leads to long-term results. They are an ideal partner for organizations with nuanced workflows that need more than off-the-shelf AI – offering a blend of creativity, precision, and user empathy in every project.
Kin + Carta
- Website: kinandcarta.com
- Founded: 2018
- Services: Digital transformation, enterprise AI strategy, data analytics, product development
- Industries served: Financial services, retail, industrial, public sector, automotive
- Locations: Chicago, IL; London, UK
- Contact: (312) 998‑9800 | [email protected]
Kin + Carta is a global digital consultancy with a strong Chicago presence, renowned for guiding large enterprises through AI-driven transformation. For Fortune 500 companies and government agencies alike, Kin + Carta provides structure and strategy in navigating AI at scale. They emphasize AI governance and ethics, helping clients implement automation responsibly across departments – from customer engagement bots to supply chain optimizations. Kin + Carta’s technical teams are fluent in enterprise AI tools and cloud platforms, but they also bring deep business alignment, ensuring solutions meet compliance requirements (HIPAA, GDPR, etc.) and real-world constraints. With its blend of Chicago-based innovation and international experience, Kin + Carta is particularly suited for organizations seeking to infuse AI into complex, multi-layered operations with confidence and oversight.
Slalom
- Website: slalom.com
- Founded: 2001
- Services: Business consulting, data strategy, AI & machine learning solutions, cloud transformation
- Industries served: Various – including healthcare, finance, retail, media, and technology
- Locations: Chicago, IL; Seattle, WA (global HQ); offices across North America & globally
- Contact: (312) 324‑9200 | [email protected]
Slalom is a modern consulting firm with a strong Chicago footprint, bringing a strategy-first mindset to every AI engagement. Known for guiding enterprise digital transformations, Slalom combines vision with execution for companies that want both big-picture strategy and hands-on implementation. Their AI automation capabilities center heavily on data: Slalom helps organizations unlock value from their data stores by applying AI to customer journeys, marketing personalization, back-office workflows, and more. They maintain deep partnerships with cloud providers like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, enabling them to deploy cutting-edge AI services efficiently. If your business is sitting on a mountain of data and unsure how to turn it into intelligent, automated systems, Slalom’s consultants can bridge the gap – delivering custom AI roadmaps, development, and integration while keeping business outcomes front and center.
West Monroe
- Website: westmonroe.com
- Founded: 2002
- Services: Digital consulting, industry-specific AI solutions, process automation, technology integration
- Industries served: Financial services, healthcare, energy & utilities, consumer & retail, private equity
- Locations: Chicago, IL
- Contact: (312) 980‑9380 | [email protected]
West Monroe stands out for its sector-focused approach to AI. Headquartered in Chicago, this consultancy recognizes that a successful automation strategy must consider the nuances of each industry. Rather than one-size-fits-all solutions, West Monroe’s teams specialize by domain – whether it’s automating claims in insurance, optimizing patient scheduling in healthcare, or applying machine learning to energy grid data. They blend technologists with industry veterans on their project teams, ensuring AI initiatives support real operational goals and compliance needs. West Monroe provides end-to-end services from strategy through implementation, including change management to help employees adapt to new AI-driven processes. For organizations in fields where regulations, legacy systems, or specialized workflows are prevalent, West Monroe offers the nuanced expertise to deploy AI automation that truly sticks and delivers measurable ROI.
SPR
- Website: spr.com
- Founded: 1973
- Services: Agile software development, AI and data engineering, cloud architecture, QA/testing automation
- Industries served: Mid-market and enterprise clients across healthcare, manufacturing, nonprofits, and more
- Locations: Chicago, IL (HQ); Milwaukee, WI
- Contact: (312) 756‑1760 | [email protected]
SPR is a long-standing Chicago-based tech consultancy that has successfully reinvented itself for the AI era. Focused on helping mid-sized and enterprise companies deliver custom digital solutions quickly, SPR brings an agile approach to AI automation projects. They’re known for rapid prototyping and getting working software into clients’ hands in weeks rather than months. In the AI domain, SPR’s work ranges from intelligent chatbots and recommendation engines to behind-the-scenes process automation that eliminates repetitive tasks. Their emphasis on user experience means they don’t sacrifice usability for fancy tech – every AI tool or integration is built with the end-user in mind. If you need to move fast on an AI initiative without getting bogged down in endless planning, SPR’s iterative approach is ideal. They help clients “learn by doing,” launching pilot solutions swiftly and refining them based on real feedback and data.
The Graide Network
- Website: thegraidenetwork.com
- Founded: 2015
- Services: AI-assisted grading platform, education workflow automation, feedback analytics
- Industries served: Education (K-12 schools, educators, EdTech organizations)
- Locations: Chicago, IL
- Contact: [email protected]
While smaller than many others on this list, The Graide Network earns a mention for its unique focus on AI in education. This Chicago-based startup has been quietly developing AI-assisted tools to support teachers with grading and providing student feedback. By blending human expertise with machine learning, The Graide Network’s platform can analyze written assignments and assist educators in giving more consistent, data-driven feedback to students. The result is a significant reduction in time teachers spend on grading, allowing them to focus more on instruction. This firm is laser-focused on the academic domain – it’s not the choice if you’re in healthcare or finance – but for schools and education companies, The Graide Network offers automation solutions tailored to classrooms and curricula. Their work exemplifies how AI automation can address very specific pain points (like grading overload) with impressive results in efficiency and educational outcomes.
Genetech Solutions
- Website: genetechsolutions.com
- Founded: 2004
- Services: Custom software development, AI-driven applications, IT consulting, API integrations
- Industries served: Fintech, logistics, startups, eCommerce, various small & mid-size businesses
- Locations: Chicago, IL; Ann Arbor, MI
- Contact: +1 (734) 388‑4303 | [email protected]
Genetech Solutions has built a reputation for tailoring AI-powered workflows to the unique needs of growing businesses. With an office serving the Chicago area (and roots as a global software engineering firm), Genetech combines deep technical expertise with a collaborative approach. They excel in projects where a company needs to modernize or automate legacy processes – for example, integrating an AI module into an existing ERP system or creating a machine learning API for a finance application. Genetech’s engineers work closely with clients to understand specific requirements, then build custom automations and intelligent features that reduce manual work. They are particularly adept at blending modern AI tools with older tech stacks, ensuring new solutions seamlessly integrate with a client’s current infrastructure. For organizations that need precision and customization rather than off-the-shelf software, Genetech delivers cost-effective, reliable AI systems, backed by clean code and solid support.
LaunchPad Lab
- Website: launchpadlab.com
- Founded: 2012
- Services: Digital product development, AI automation solutions, web & mobile app development, Salesforce consulting
- Industries served: Financial services, healthcare, nonprofit, professional services, education
- Locations: Chicago, IL
- Contact: (312) 888‑9651 | [email protected]
LaunchPad Lab is a Chicago-based digital product studio that puts AI at the center of its solutions. They help businesses turn manual, time-consuming processes into high-rev, automated workflows using intelligent software and “agentic” AI (autonomous AI agents that can perform tasks). LaunchPad Lab’s team of designers and engineers partner with clients from concept through deployment, often delivering a working AI prototype in a matter of weeks. The firm’s cross-industry experience – from fintech to manufacturing to social impact organizations – means they bring fresh ideas to each project. Notably, LaunchPad Lab has developed an Agentforce program, enabling companies to train and deploy AI agents that handle tasks like data extraction, customer self-service, and decision support. If you’re looking to rapidly operationalize AI in your business, LaunchPad Lab offers a proven framework to go from zero to a live AI solution in a short timeframe, all while ensuring the end product is user-friendly and aligned with your business goals.
Ascentient
- Website: ascentient.com
- Founded: 1999
- Services: AI & automation consulting, managed IT services, cloud solutions, cybersecurity
- Industries served: Small and mid-sized businesses across manufacturing, supply chain, healthcare, retail
- Locations: Schaumburg, IL
- Contact: (847) 690‑1900 | [email protected]
Ascentient is an IT consulting firm that has embraced AI and intelligent automation as core offerings in recent years. Having served Chicago-area businesses for over two decades (originally as MIS Choice), Ascentient provides a blend of traditional IT expertise and modern AI consulting. They focus on impact over hype: rather than pushing the latest buzzworthy tool, Ascentient starts by identifying operational bottlenecks and repetitive tasks within a client’s processes. Their AI & Automation Consulting practice then designs solutions that might involve RPA (robotic process automation) for workflow streamlining, machine learning for predictive analytics, or simple scripting and integrations to connect systems. The breadth of Ascentient’s services – from cloud infrastructure to security – means they can ensure any AI deployment is secure, compliant, and well-integrated into the company’s IT environment. For small-to-mid size firms that need a trusted technology partner to lead them into the AI-powered future, Ascentient offers seasoned guidance with an emphasis on real business results.
Northwest AI Consulting (NWAI)
- Website: nwai.co
- Founded: 2025
- Services: AI strategy and roadmapping, AI development (custom ML models, generative AI), AI workflow automation, data services
- Industries served: Construction, banking, healthcare, insurance, government, retail, small business (tailored AI solutions for each)
- Locations: Portland, OR; Chicago, IL
- Contact: (503) 298‑4673 | [email protected]
Northwest AI Consulting (despite its name) actively serves the Chicago market with enterprise-focused AI consulting and development services. NWAI positions itself as a strategic partner for organizations looking to accelerate digital transformation through artificial intelligence. From their Chicago office, they offer end-to-end support: helping clients craft AI strategies and governance policies, developing custom AI solutions (like proprietary chatbots, computer vision systems, or AI-driven analytics dashboards), and integrating these solutions into existing business workflows. NWAI emphasizes local market knowledge – understanding the unique challenges Illinois businesses face – combined with cutting-edge AI expertise. They also place a strong focus on AI ethics and compliance, guiding companies through emerging regulations and ensuring responsible AI deployment. For Chicago enterprises that want a partner to both strategize and implement AI initiatives, NWAI brings a comprehensive playbook, covering everything from executive training on AI to 24/7 support once solutions are live.
Flamingo Agency
- Website: flamingoagency.com
- Founded: 2017
- Services: AI website automation, small business marketing automation, web design, SEO, lead generation systems
- Industries served: Small businesses across professional services, home services, creative industries, local commerce
- Locations: Chicago, IL
- Contact: (312) 967‑7044 | [email protected]
Flamingo Agency is a Chicago-based digital agency that specializes in bringing AI automation to websites and marketing for small businesses. With a strong background in WordPress web design and SEO, Flamingo has expanded its services to include intelligent website features and workflow integrations that save time for business owners. For example, Flamingo can build smart contact forms that automatically route inquiries to the right person, chatbots that engage visitors 24/7, or connect a client’s website to CRM/email systems so that follow-ups happen seamlessly. The agency has earned top ratings on platforms like Clutch by focusing on quality, responsiveness, and tangible results. Flamingo’s sweet spot is the entrepreneur or local business that doesn’t have an in-house tech team but still wants to leverage AI tools – they make automation accessible and affordable. In short, Flamingo Agency combines web expertise with AI know-how to deliver “business websites that work smarter, not harder,” helping clients capture more leads and streamline their online customer interactions.
Bounteous
- Website: bounteous.com
- Founded: 2003
- Services: Digital experience design, eCommerce development, marketing analytics, AI-driven personalization, digital transformation consulting
- Industries served: Restaurants & hospitality, CPG and retail, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing
- Locations: Chicago, IL
- Contact: (877) 220‑5862 | [email protected]
Bounteous is a global digital innovation partner that started in Chicago and has grown to work with some of the world’s biggest brands. At its core, Bounteous helps companies create exceptional digital experiences — and increasingly, that means using AI to make those experiences smarter and more personalized. For instance, Bounteous builds AI-powered recommendation engines for retailers, implements machine learning to optimize marketing campaigns in real-time, and integrates conversational AI into mobile apps for more natural user interactions. They are known for their “co-innovation” approach: embedding their teams with client teams to collaboratively solve problems. In the realm of automation, Bounteous often assists clients in leveraging customer data with AI, enabling things like predictive customer segmentation or automated content personalization on websites. With deep roots in strategy, design, and engineering, Bounteous can take a project from the whiteboard to launch, all while ensuring that the technology aligns with the client’s brand and business objectives. Companies seeking a partner to drive digital transformation with an AI edge will find in Bounteous a formidable blend of creative agency and tech consultancy.
Analytics8
- Website: analytics8.com
- Founded: 2002
- Services: Data analytics consulting, AI & machine learning solutions, BI dashboard development, data warehousing, strategy advisory
- Industries served: Healthcare, finance, retail, manufacturing, media – (data-centric solutions across sectors)
- Locations: Chicago, IL
- Contact: (312) 878‑6600 | [email protected]
Analytics8 is a full-service data and analytics consulting firm headquartered in Chicago, with a long history of helping organizations make smarter, data-driven decisions. In recent years, they have incorporated AI and machine learning into their suite of services, recognizing that advanced analytics and AI go hand in hand. Analytics8 typically works with clients to first ensure their data foundation is solid – cleaning and structuring data, setting up modern data warehouses or lakes – and then they layer on AI models to extract insights or automate analysis. Examples of their work include building predictive models to forecast customer churn, creating automated reporting systems that use natural language generation (NLG) to explain trends, and deploying anomaly detection algorithms for fraud and quality control. With over 1000 clients served, Analytics8 brings proven methodologies to each project, whether it’s a quick proof-of-concept or a large-scale enterprise data transformation. For businesses that understand the value of their data but need guidance to unlock it with AI, Analytics8 offers the technical expertise and strategic insight to deliver results while keeping data governance and accuracy at the forefront.
Summary
Chicago’s AI automation landscape is rich and diverse, spanning nimble startups, specialized boutiques, and established consulting powerhouses. The 15 companies profiled above each bring something unique — from education-focused AI tools and small-business website automation, to enterprise-grade strategy and custom development. By leveraging the strengths of these top Chicago agencies, businesses in the region can tap into cutting-edge AI capabilities without going it alone.
In summary, choosing the right AI automation partner comes down to aligning an agency’s expertise with your goals and industry. Fortunately, Chicago offers options for every need. Whether you’re a healthcare provider aiming to streamline operations, a financial firm seeking to enhance data analytics, or a local business ready to embrace smart marketing, there’s an AI agency on this list equipped to turn your automation ambitions into reality. With their help, Chicago companies can harness artificial intelligence to work smarter, innovate faster, and stay ahead in today’s competitive landscape.
