📖 Complete Guide

How Does All This
Actually Work?

Before you decide, understand how AI agent setups work, what the real costs are, and exactly what we set up for you. No hidden costs, no surprises.

What's Actually Happening

Your agent setup connects you, an AI model, and every platform you use — in one system running 24/7.

💬
You / Customer
WhatsApp · Telegram
Send a message at any time
message
🤖
Your AI Agent
Running on VPS 24/7
Receives messages, thinks, takes action
API call
🧠
AI Model
Claude · Gemini via OpenRouter
Processes and generates responses

Your agent can also connect to:

📋 Google Sheets
📅 Google Calendar
📧 Email
🗂️ Notion / CRM
🔔 Webhook / Other APIs
💡 Steadigital handles the configuration, integrations, and setup details so everything works correctly from day one.

AI Agent vs a Regular Chatbot

Many people confuse the two. Here's the real difference you need to understand before making a decision.

❌ Regular Chatbot
Do you have size L for this shirt?
10:23
Sorry, I don't understand your question. Please choose from the menu: 1. Products 2. Pricing 3. Contact Us
10:23
I just want to know if it's in stock
10:24
Sorry, I don't understand your question. Please choose from the menu: 1. Products 2. Pricing 3. Contact Us
10:24
❌ Customer frustrated. You lost the sale.
  • Only replies within fixed scripts
  • Can't understand questions outside the script
  • No memory — forgets every customer each time
  • Cannot take any action beyond the chat
✅ AI Agent
Do you have size L for this shirt?
10:23
Yes! We have 3 units of size L for the Batik Premium Shirt. Want me to reserve one for you?
10:23
Yes please, how do I order?
10:24
Easy! Transfer to Maybank 1234567890 (Kedai ABC) RM89 and send the receipt here. I'll process it in 5 minutes. Can I get your name and delivery address?
10:24
✅ Customer happy. Sale closed. Fully automated.
  • Understands context and free-form questions
  • Remembers customers and purchase history
  • Checks stock from Google Sheets in real time
  • Automatically follows up after 24h if no response

The Real Costs Involved

We believe in complete transparency. These are all the costs you need to know before getting started — no surprises later.

🔧
Setup Cost
One-time payment to Steadigital
RM499 – RM3,499
one-time, non-recurring

This is Steadigital's service fee to install, configure, and integrate your agent. It covers all technical work, security hardening, and integration with WhatsApp or your chosen platform.

Includes:
  • Agent installation & configuration
  • Security hardening & VPS setup
  • WhatsApp / Telegram integration
  • Custom SOUL.md, MEMORY.md, AGENTS.md
  • Thorough testing before handover
  • Support according to package tier
See full packages →
🧠
AI Model API Cost
Paid directly to OpenRouter — not Steadigital
RM30 – RM100
estimated per month for a typical business

Your agent needs an AI model to think and respond. Each interaction uses a small amount of API credit. You register your own OpenRouter account and top up directly. Steadigital does not handle this money.

TaskModelCost
Simple FAQGemini Flash~RM0.01/100 msg
WhatsApp standardClaude Haiku~RM0.05/100 msg
Complex reasoningClaude Sonnet~RM0.50/100 msg
💡 Realistic estimate: A business with 50–200 WhatsApp messages per day typically pays RM40–80/month in API costs. Steadigital configures smart routing to save 60–80% in costs.
🖥️
VPS Hosting Cost
Paid directly to provider — not Steadigital
RM20 – RM50
estimated per month

Your agent needs to run on a server 24/7 — like renting a shop for your agent. Steadigital recommends the best providers and sets it up for you. You pay them directly.

  • DigitalOcean~RM22/mo
  • Vultr~RM20/mo
  • Hetzner~RM18/mo
  • Oracle CloudFREE*

*Oracle Cloud free tier is suitable to start. Professional package and above — first month VPS covered by Steadigital.

📊 Estimated Total Monthly Cost After Setup
Package Setup Cost (once) Monthly Cost After Setup
Personal AgentRM499RM35–75/mo (API only)
Starter BusinessRM799RM50–130/mo (VPS + API)
ProfessionalRM1,799RM50–130/mo (month 1 VPS free)
Business ProRM3,499RM70–180/mo (3 months VPS free)

Monthly costs are estimates. High-traffic businesses may pay more, low-traffic businesses may pay less. We help you monitor and optimise.

Why You Hold Your Own API Key

This isn't just technical — it's about trust, security, and your freedom as a business owner.

🔐
Security
💰
Transparency
🔄
Full Control
🚫
No Lock-in
🔐
Your Data, Your Security

When you hold your own API key, your agent's conversation data does not pass through any third party — including Steadigital. Everything goes directly between your server and OpenRouter. This is important for businesses handling sensitive customer information.

💰
Direct Billing, No Markup

You pay OpenRouter at the real rate — no markup, no commission to Steadigital. You can monitor usage in your OpenRouter dashboard and set spending limits to avoid surprise bills.

🔄
Full Control at All Times

If you ever want to switch providers, top up credits, or change to a different provider — you are free to do so. Your agent belongs entirely to you. No lock-in whatsoever.

How to Set Up OpenRouter? (5 Minutes)

Steadigital guides you step by step during onboarding. Here's a quick preview:

1
Go to openrouter.ai and register a free account
2
Top up a minimum of $10 in credits (≈RM47)
3
Generate an API key from your dashboard
4
Send the key to us during onboarding
⚠️ Important: Don't share your API key with anyone other than Steadigital during the setup process. After setup is complete, you can generate a new key from your OpenRouter dashboard for added security.

Which AI Models Are Used?

Your agent stack still needs the right AI models behind it. Here's what you need to know.

🤖
Simple Analogy

Think of the agent stack as the robot's body frame — it has hands, feet, and a system. The AI model is its brain. Without a brain, the robot can't think or act. Steadigital configures your agent with an optimal combination of models to save costs without sacrificing quality.

How We Configure Smart Model Routing
TierModelUsed ForEstimated Cost
🟢 EconomyGemini Flash 1.5Heartbeat, simple FAQ, quick tasksNearly free (~RM0.01/1,000 msg)
🔵 StandardClaude HaikuDaily conversations, follow-ups, WhatsApp standardCheap (~RM0.05/100 msg)
🟠 PremiumClaude SonnetComplex reasoning, report drafts, deep analysisModerate (~RM0.50/100 msg)
⚪ FallbackGPT-4o MiniBackup if Claude hits rate limitsCheap (comparable to Claude Haiku)
🎯 With this smart routing, 80% of your agent's tasks use cheap models (Economy & Standard tiers). Only tasks that genuinely require deep reasoning use premium models. This saves 60–80% in costs compared to setups that use a single model for everything.
⚠️ Cheap Models Don't Always Work for Agents

Not every cheap model is suitable for production agents. Models like Gemini Flash-Lite and GPT-4.1-mini are too weak for the tool calling and multi-step reasoning that agents require — causing them to behave erratically or fail to complete tasks. Steadigital selects models based on real-world experience, not just choosing the cheapest option.

From Start to Your Agent Going Live

A transparent, structured process so you know exactly what's happening every step of the way.

1
Assessment & Identify Requirements
Day 1

You complete our free assessment (10 questions, around 5 minutes). Our system analyses your answers and suggests the 3 most suitable agents for your situation.

You
Complete the assessment at steadigital.com/aistaff and submit basic business information
Steadigital
Analyse answers and prepare initial agent recommendations based on your business profile
2
Consultation & Scope Confirmation
Day 1–2

We contact you via WhatsApp to discuss the agent recommendation, confirm the exact scope of work, and answer all your questions. You know precisely what will be built before making any payment.

You
Join WhatsApp consultation, confirm scope, make 50% deposit payment
Steadigital
Prepare environment, technical plan, and setup checklist for your project
3
API & Infrastructure Setup
Day 2–3

You set up an OpenRouter account and top up credits (we guide every step). We provision the VPS and install your agent stack in a secure, hardened environment.

You
Register at OpenRouter.ai, top up minimum $10 credits, securely send your API key to us
Steadigital
Provision VPS, install the agent stack, configure firewall, security hardening, set up sandbox environment
4
Agent Configuration & Integration
Day 3–7

We fully configure your agent — personality, memory, skills, and automated workflows. Then we integrate with WhatsApp or your chosen platform and thoroughly test every function.

You
Review the draft agent during testing and provide feedback for refinement
Steadigital
Build SOUL.md, AGENTS.md, HEARTBEAT.md, configure smart model routing, integrate channel, test all workflows, optimise response quality
5
Handover & You're Live
Day 5–14

Your agent is fully ready. We conduct a walkthrough session according to your package to show you how to monitor and use it. You pay the remaining 50% and receive all documentation.

You
Pay remaining 50%, attend walkthrough session, start using your agent
Steadigital
Deliver handover documentation, activate support period, monitor agent for the first week, ready to answer questions

Questions We Hear All the Time

Honest answers to the concerns most frequently raised by prospective clients.

😟
What if the agent breaks or stops working?

Agent stacks are actively maintained software, so updates can occasionally cause minor issues. That's why we have Managed Care — we monitor, update, and fix things before they affect your business. Without Managed Care, you'll need to manage it yourself or contact us for ad-hoc work.

💸
What if the API bill spikes unexpectedly?

This is a real risk if the agent is configured without optimisation. Too-frequent heartbeats or large contexts can silently raise costs. Steadigital sets spending caps in your OpenRouter dashboard and alerts if usage exceeds the limit. Managed Care clients get quarterly API optimisation.

🔒
Is my customer data safe?

Yes. Your agent can run on infrastructure you control, so data does not need to sit inside a generic third-party chatbot cloud. The AI model receives text to generate a reply only and does not permanently store your data. Steadigital security-hardens every setup: firewall, sandbox, no ports exposed to the public internet.

📱
Will customers know they're talking to AI?

That depends on how you configure it. Some businesses are transparent, others configure the agent with a persona that feels very natural. A well-written agent feels natural in both English and Malay. We don't encourage deceiving customers — but the choice is yours.

🔄
Can I add new features later?

Yes. Your agent can have new workflows, skills, or integrations added at any time. Existing clients get a 20% discount on additional work. All changes are tested in a staging environment before being deployed to the live agent.

🤝
What if Steadigital closes down?

A great and honest question. Because your agent runs on infrastructure you control with your own API key, you lose very little if you ever decide to move on. The agent keeps running. You can hire another developer or manage it yourself. No lock-in with Steadigital whatsoever.

Steadigital vs DIY vs Cheap Freelancer

Why your choice of setup partner matters for an agent that actually works long-term.

DIY Cheap Freelancer Steadigital
Setup time 15–40 hrs yourself 2–5 hrs 3–7 days (we do it)
Setup cost RM0 (your time ≠ 0) RM180–820 RM499–3,499
Security hardening
Smart model routing
Post-setup support ❌ / Very limited ✅ 14–60 days
Documentation
Malay language support ❌ Usually not ✅ BM + English
Managed Care ✅ RM199–899/mo
Risk of agent breaking 🔴 High 🟡 Medium 🟢 Low

What Is Managed Care & Why It Matters

🚗
🔧 Setup = Buying a car — one-time cost
🛢️ Managed Care = Car servicing — ongoing maintenance
⛽ API Cost = Fuel — pay as you go

Without regular servicing, your car can break down on the road at the worst possible moment.

What can happen WITHOUT Managed Care:

⚠️
Updates Break Integrations

Agent tooling changes over time. Some updates change how integrations work. Without monitoring, you may not realise your agent has stopped functioning.

⚠️
API Costs Spike Suddenly

Growing context, frequent heartbeats, or unoptimised workflows can silently raise API costs from RM50 to RM200+ per month without warning.

⚠️
Security Vulnerabilities

Security issues still need regular patching. Without maintenance, your agent is exposed to risks that could compromise your business data.

⚠️
Memory & Context Issues

Agents running for a long time without maintenance can experience memory overflow — causing the agent to forget important instructions or act outside its configured scope.

Our Managed Care Packages
Basic
RM199/mo
  • Agent uptime monitoring
  • Regular agent stack updates
  • 2 hrs support per month
  • Monthly health report
Full
RM899/mo
  • Everything in Active
  • Unlimited minor modifications
  • 1 new agent per quarter
  • Dedicated Telegram group
See full packages →
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✅ No long-term contracts
✅ Support in English & Malay
✅ 50% deposit, 50% after completion