Book a fit check

About

Executive-level data and AI advisory — without big-firm drag.

Soft Solutions Partners exists for companies that need senior judgment on data, AI, and KPI credibility — but don't need a large transformation program to get started.

Our story

Built around a specific gap

Since 1998, Soft Solutions Group has helped organizations turn complex technology and data challenges into measurable business outcomes — building a reputation through client focus, deep technical expertise, and a bias toward practical results over theoretical frameworks.

Soft Solutions Partners was founded to fill a specific gap in the lower middle market: companies that need senior, operator-grade data and AI judgment — but don't have the budget, timeline, or appetite for a large consulting program as the first step.

Most organizations don't have a data problem — they have a decision clarity problem. We scope the first engagement narrowly enough that you can buy a decision, not a promise.

How we work

Fixed-fee. Low burden. Honest.

1
Fixed-fee first engagements
You know the scope, timeline, and cost before any work begins. No retainer ambiguity.
2
Clear deliverables
Every engagement ends with a tangible artifact — a plan, an assessment, or a working output — not a deck to shelve.
3
Direct senior involvement
No junior consultants running the work. Ben is directly involved in every engagement.
4
Honest if the fit isn't right
If the fit check reveals you're not ready for one of our offers, we'll say so — and tell you why.
5
NDA-comfortable
We regularly work in sensitive pre-transaction and diligence environments. NDAs are standard practice, not an exception.

Leadership

Ben Carroll — Principal

Ben Carroll is a senior technology executive and advisor with 20+ years spanning enterprise CIO/CDO leadership, private-equity transaction execution, and practical AI transformation in regulated and growth environments. He specializes in the moments where technology outcomes materially influence deal value — technical due diligence, carve-outs, Day-1 readiness, and post-close value creation tied to measurable KPIs.

Ben's operating credentials include CIO/CDO leadership in healthcare services and Chief Data Officer and Chief Analytics & AI Officer scope at a major health insurer, where he led large multidiscipline organizations across data management, analytics, and data science. He is known for stabilizing complex environments, clarifying enterprise risk, and translating technical reality into board-level decisions.

In parallel, Ben has built a transaction-oriented advisory track record, supporting private equity sponsors and corporate development teams with technology diligence, separation strategy, and executable roadmaps that balance speed, cost, and risk. He brings the pattern recognition of a former top-tier consultant and the practical judgment of an operator.

Ben's AI work is intentionally outcome-driven. He designs AI roadmaps grounded in ROI, leads rapid prototyping and pilot programs, and implements governance and adoption playbooks to move organizations from experimentation to controlled, value-producing deployment.

View LinkedIn profile
Credentials & experience
Fractional / Interim CIO · CDO · CAIO
CIO/CDO — Healthcare provider organization
Chief Analytics & AI Officer — Major health insurer
Advisory: West Monroe Partners, Deloitte, Capgemini, ZS Associates
PE tech due diligence across healthcare, financial services, and industrial
20+ years · 300+ person teams · $50M+ budgets
Certifications: AWS, Google, Microsoft, Wharton (UPenn), Johns Hopkins

Why this works

The right to win

Our strongest differentiator isn't a methodology — it's perspective. We've sat on the other side of the table.

Built around buyer psychology
Our offers ask for a small decision, promise a tangible artifact, and connect directly to the operating issues executives already talk about: growth, margin, forecasting, diligence, and confidence in the numbers.
PE and diligence experience
We know what buyers scrutinize, what operators need to defend, and where data gaps create the most risk to value. That's the insider view — not a generic maturity model.
Operator-led delivery
Every engagement is led by someone who has built and run data and AI functions inside operating companies under time pressure — not by a team managing it from a distance.
Fixed scope, real artifacts
We don't produce decks that sit on shelves. Every engagement ends with something the client can use, defend, and build on — not just a set of recommendations.

Ready to see if there's a fit?

A 30-minute conversation is enough to confirm whether one of our offers makes sense for your situation — or whether you should wait.

Book a fit check Take the assessment first