AI Strategy: Build, Partner or Buy

Want to start an AI project but don't know whether to Buy, Partner or Build?

The "Buy vs. Partner vs. Partner" dilemma is not a new one, but in the age of AI, it has become one of the most critical strategic decisions a leadership team can make.

Before your data science and engineering teams default to "we'll build it ourselves", it is critical to recognise that this is more than just a technical preference, it's a decision that will fundamentally shape your project's scope, timeline and ultimate success.

👉 The decision to buy an off-the-shelf AI solution or to partner with a specialised vendor can significantly de-risk execution.

👉 Conversely, the decision to build internally means taking on the full weight of technical debt, the ongoing burden of maintenance, and the significant opportunity cost of diverting your best minds from your core business.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥. 

The best AI strategy is not always the one that involves writing the most code. Often, the most strategic decision is to leverage the expertise of others so you can focus on what truly matters: delivering value to your customers.