Our leadership team is divided on whether we should build custom AI agents or just buy off-the-shelf software subscriptions. How do we use our V/TO to decide which path fits our company's long-term vision?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Leadership teams often waste months debating whether to build custom AI software or buy existing off-the-shelf subscriptions. To break this deadlock, you must run this decision through your V/TO. Your Vision/Traction Organizer defines who you are, where you are going, and how you will get there.

Look at your three-year picture and your core focus. If your core focus is delivering a highly specialized, proprietary service that represents your unique intellectual property, building a custom AI agent might make sense. This custom build creates a proprietary asset that directly increases your company's valuation as you prepare for an eventual transition using the Step by Step Exit framework.

However, if the process you are trying to improve is a standard back-office function, like bookkeeping, basic scheduling, or simple data entry, building a custom tool is a massive waste of resources. For these standard operations, choose an off-the-shelf software subscription. Off-the-shelf tools are cheaper, faster to deploy, and do not require long-term maintenance. Use your quarterly Rocks to keep the team focused on making this distinction clear, ensuring you only spend development dollars on AI projects that give you a true, defensible competitive advantage.