VOLKA
South Africa AI Automation Programme

Get a custom AI automation built for your business. For free.

Other AI agencies charge R30,000 to R200,000 upfront before they have built anything. We do the opposite. We build it first, show you it works, then you pay.

Apply Now - It Takes 5 Minutes Already applied? Log in to your portal

300+

Applications reviewed

90

AI automations built for SMEs

R0

What we charge upfront

29.1%

Acceptance rate

Let's be honest - most small and medium businesses cannot afford to gamble R100,000 on an AI project.

Hiring an AI agency to automate part of your business sounds great in theory. But this is what usually happens.

You pay R50,000 to R200,000 upfront. You sit through weeks of discovery and scoping. You get a proposal deck and a timeline. Maybe a demo. Then you wait months, hoping what they deliver actually works.

Sometimes it does. Often it does not. Either way, you have already paid.

That is the reality for many businesses trying to use AI right now, and it is why many do not even try.

That is why we built Volka.

The usual agency flow

  • Pay big upfront fee
  • Wait for scoping and decks
  • Carry all project risk yourself

Volka flow

  • Apply and get reviewed in 24-48 hours
  • We build first for approved businesses
  • You pay only after working proof

We build your AI automation for free - and you only pay if it works.

As part of our free automation programme, we build custom AI workflows for South African businesses at no upfront cost.

Manual work identified

Your team does repetitive work every day: chasing leads, writing quotes, sorting emails, updating spreadsheets, and following up with customers.

Custom workflow built

We build practical AI systems around your real process, not generic demos. No proposals, no deposits, and no invoices before proof.

Value shown first

We show the automation running before commercial expansion starts. You can track build progress in your portal throughout.

AI automations built for free

90

What other agencies often charge upfront

R50,000+

What Volka charges upfront

R0

We are going to be upfront with you about why this is free.

We do this because it is the fastest way to build trust with business owners who are understandably skeptical of AI promises.

Most businesses have never worked with an AI automation company before. They have seen the promises and the big price tags, and they are right to be cautious.

So instead of asking you to trust a pitch, we build the thing and show you it works. If you want us to keep it running, improve it, or build more automations, that is where the paid relationship starts.

The businesses that continue do so because they saw real value. The businesses that do not continue pay nothing.

Here is exactly what happens after you apply.

This is an application-based process with clear timelines, clear outcomes, and visible status updates in-platform.

5 minutes

Step 1 - You apply (5 minutes)

Tell us what is slowing your team down. The repetitive task. The bottleneck. The thing someone does manually 20 times a week. That is all we need.

24-48 hours

Step 2 - We review your application (24-48 hours)

We read every application personally. If we are confident we can build something that actually works for your business, we accept you into the programme and assign an AI engineer. If it is not the right fit, we tell you honestly.

1-2 weeks

Step 3 - We build it. For free. (1-2 weeks)

No invoice. No deposit. We build the automation and show you it working. You watch the progress in your portal on our website the whole time.

After proof

Step 4 - See it working. Then pay.

Once you have seen it working and you are happy with it, we agree payment and rollout. You only pay after working proof is visible.

Most businesses go from application to a deployed, working automation in under 3 weeks.

We accept 29.1% of applicants.

We do not take every project. If we are not confident we can build something that genuinely works for your business, we will not waste your time pretending we can.

Apply to our free automation programme and our team will review your application within 24-48 hours. If we think it is a fit, we get back to you and start building at no upfront cost.

If we cannot help right now, we keep your application on file. Many businesses initially put on hold work with us later.

Apply Now - We will review within 48 hours

29.1%

Accepted

Selective acceptance protects delivery quality and keeps the programme focused on businesses where we can create clear, measurable outcomes quickly.

Here is what it looks like when it works.

These are real business scenarios that moved from application to working automation in days.

Dental Practice, Johannesburg

The problem

Leads were coming in from Facebook, the website, and WhatsApp. The admin team could not keep up, and people enquired without hearing back.

What we built

We built a system that captures every lead, logs it in one place, and notifies the right person within minutes. If nobody responds within 2 hours, an automatic follow-up goes out.

The result

Fewer missed enquiries, faster response, and more confidence in lead handling.

Built and deployed in 8 days

Engineering Consultancy, Cape Town

The problem

Senior engineers spent 3-4 hours on every proposal by copying old documents and rewriting repetitive sections.

What we built

We built a proposal workflow that takes the project brief, pulls relevant sections from past proposals, and produces a structured first draft for review.

The result

Proposals go out faster. Engineers got hours back every week with fewer late nights.

Built and deployed in 6 days

Manufacturer, Gauteng

The problem

Incoming enquiries were manually triaged across teams, with missing context and repeated follow-ups.

What we built

We built an intake system that reads each enquiry, classifies it, extracts key details, and routes it to the correct team with everything attached.

The result

Internal delays dropped and quotes went out faster with cleaner handoffs.

Built and deployed in 10 days

What other AI agencies charge versus what we charge.

Most AI agencies ask you to pay before they build. We think that is backwards.

Upfront cost

Other agencies: R50,000 - R200,000

Volka: R0

When you see a result

Other agencies: Weeks or months after paying

Volka: 1-2 weeks before paying

What you get before paying

Other agencies: A proposal deck and a promise

Volka: A working automation

Who carries the risk

Other agencies: You

Volka: Us

We have built automations for businesses across South Africa.

If your team spends time on repetitive tasks, there is a good chance we can help.

Not sure if you are ready? Start here.

Useful guides whether you apply now or come back later.

Is your business ready for automation?

A simple checklist to figure out whether the thing slowing you down is something we can actually automate.

Read the checklist

How to estimate what automation could save you

A practical framework to estimate how many hours and rands a manual workflow is costing your business every month.

See the framework

How to write a strong application

What to include so we can assess your workflow quickly and give you a clear answer.

Read the guide

Do not take our word for it.

"For the first time, our team had a clear process from enquiry to follow-up. We stopped losing leads between inboxes and wondering who replied to what."

Dental Practice Owner, Johannesburg

"The proposal workflow gave us back senior time. We now review quality drafts instead of starting from blank pages. That alone was worth it."

Engineering Director, Cape Town

"I liked that I could see exactly where the build was in the portal. No chasing. No wondering. Just updates when something moved forward."

Operations Manager, Durban

"I kept waiting for the catch. There was not one. They built it, proved it worked, and only then did we pay."

Business Owner, Pretoria

FAQ

Is this actually free?

Yes. We build your first automation at no cost. No deposit and no invoice upfront. We show you it working, then deploy it in your business. You only pay after it works.

Why do you not accept everyone?

We only take on projects we are confident we can deliver. Being selective protects quality and avoids wasting your time.

What happens after I apply?

We review your application within 24-48 hours. If it is a fit, we get in touch and start building. If not, we let you know clearly and keep your details on file.

How long does it take?

Most builds take 1-2 weeks from the day we start. You can track progress in your portal throughout the build.

What kinds of things can you automate?

Repetitive, rule-based work: lead follow-up, quote generation, data entry, report building, customer communication, email sorting, and scheduling.

What if my application is not accepted?

It is not a permanent rejection. We keep applications and revisit them as capacity grows. Many businesses initially put on hold are onboarded later.

Do I need to be technical?

No. We plug into tools you already use and guide your team through the handover.

Can I track what is happening during the build?

Yes. You can view application status, project stage, and updates in your portal without chasing emails.

Is everything in Rands?

Yes. Pricing, quotes, and invoicing are handled in ZAR for South African businesses.

Never worked with an AI company before? That is fine.

Most businesses we work with have never automated anything before. We built the portal so you can see what is happening at every step without needing technical expertise.

Clear process

From application to decision to build updates, the process is visible and straightforward.

Hands-on guidance

We walk your team through handover and usage, regardless of technical background.

Status tracking in-platform

No chasing email threads. You can track application status and build progress in one place.

Got a task that is eating your team's time?

Apply in 5 minutes. We review within 24-48 hours. If you are a fit, we build your automation for free.

Apply Now Already applied? Check your status

No upfront fees | No contracts | Everything in ZAR | 29.1% acceptance rate