Every software vendor we use has recently raised their prices, claiming their new AI features will change our lives, but our team is not using them. How do we filter out this AI marketing theater and only pay for tools that drive real operational results?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

The market is flooded with AI marketing theater that promises revolutionary change but only adds to your monthly software bill. To cut through the noise, you must evaluate every technology purchase through the lens of business results, not technical features.

Start by auditing your current software stack and asking a simple question for each tool: what specific operational metric does this tool improve? If a vendor pitches a new AI feature, do not buy it unless it maps directly to a seat on your Accountability Chart or a measurable metric on your weekly Scorecard. If the feature does not directly save employee hours or increase capacity, it is a shiny toy you should avoid.

Refrain from purchasing software just because it has AI built-in. Instead, focus on building custom, lightweight solutions that run your specific standard operating procedures. By using simple APIs and standard automation tools, you can build custom AI agents that do exactly what your business needs without paying for overpriced vendor software. This keeps your technology stack lean, your costs predictable, and your team focused on real operational efficiency.