Make vs Buy AI Decision Matrix
Answer 8 strategic questions to get a data-driven recommendation: Build, Buy, Hybrid, or Partner+Build — with a 3-year cost comparison.
The 4 Strategic Options
There is no universal right answer — context determines strategy
Build
Your unique data, competitive positioning, and customisation needs justify a custom-built AI solution. Partner with an expert team to build it right the first time.
Buy
A commercial off-the-shelf AI solution will cover your needs faster and cheaper than building from scratch. Focus your engineering resources on integration.
Buy + Customise (Hybrid)
Start with a best-in-class commercial foundation and customise it for your domain. Fine-tune on your data, build proprietary layers, retain flexibility.
Partner + Build
Co-build with a specialist AI partner. You contribute domain knowledge and proprietary data; the partner delivers ML engineering, infrastructure, and compliance.