Comparison
Build, buy or run: choosing your path for AI.
A simple framework for technical leaders deciding how to put AI to work, per workflow. Build when it is core IP, buy when the problem is solved, and run when you want fit without the overhead of a team.
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Side by side
The three paths, compared.
| Factor | Build | Buy | Run (with infoloop) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time to live | Months, sometimes quarters | Days to weeks | Weeks, shaped to you |
| Fit to your workflow | Exact | Off the shelf, limited | High, configured |
| Upfront cost | High | Low to medium | Medium |
| Who maintains it | You hire and keep a team | The vendor, on their roadmap | We do, monthly |
| Risk of it stalling | High without the right team | Low, but you outgrow it | Low, we run it |
| Best when | It is core IP and unique | A common, solved problem | You want fit without the overhead |
Our take
Most teams overbuild, then cannot maintain it.
The hard part of AI is not the demo, it is keeping it alive in production. The "run" path gives you the fit of custom without hiring a team to babysit it. When something truly is core IP, we build that too.
FAQ
Common questions.
When should we build custom AI?
When the workflow is core to your business and genuinely unique, and you have or will hire a team to maintain it. Otherwise the cost of keeping it alive outweighs the fit.
When is buying off the shelf enough?
When the problem is common and solved, and a standard tool fits closely. The risk is outgrowing it or bending your process to the software.
What does "run" mean here?
We deploy a proven system or a tailored build, configure it to you, then monitor, fix and improve it every month. You get fit without hiring and keeping a team.
Not sure which path fits? Let us map it.
Book a call and we will work through build, buy or run for each of your workflows, with a clear recommendation.