What are best practices to minimize the cost when using Amazon Bedrock, especially for applications with high request volumes?

To minimize costs when using Amazon Bedrock for high-volume applications, focus on optimizing API usage, managing input/output efficiency, and leveraging AWS cost-monitoring tools. Start by reducing unnecessary API calls through caching and batching. For example, cache frequently used responses (like common user queries in a chatbot) to avoid reprocessing identical requests. Batch multiple tasks into a single API call where possible—such as processing several text summarization requests in one payload—to lower the total number of billed requests. This reduces per-call overhead and aligns with Bedrock’s pricing model, which often charges per token or request.

Next, optimize input and output token usage to lower per-request costs. Trim redundant data from prompts—for instance, remove irrelevant context in a text-generation task to shorten input text. Use concise prompts that guide the model to produce shorter outputs without sacrificing quality. For example, specify “Respond in 1-2 sentences” to avoid verbose answers. Additionally, evaluate if smaller or more cost-effective models (like Amazon Titan Lite instead of larger models) can meet your accuracy needs. Testing different models for cost-performance trade-offs ensures you’re not overpaying for capabilities you don’t require.

Finally, monitor usage and set budget controls. Use AWS Cost Explorer to track spending trends and identify high-cost areas, such as unexpected spikes in token usage. Configure Amazon CloudWatch alarms to alert you when costs approach predefined thresholds. Implement rate limiting or auto-scaling to handle traffic efficiently—for example, throttle non-urgent background tasks during peak hours. Regularly review Bedrock’s pricing updates and adjust your strategy, like adopting Reserved Instance pricing if available for predictable workloads. Combining these practices ensures cost predictability while maintaining performance for high-scale applications.