AI: buy it, or build it yourself? How to make the right call for your SME
When a small or medium-sized business starts implementing AI, one question always surfaces: should we buy an AI solution, or build it ourselves? It's tempting to assume that building in-house is cheaper and more flexible. Recent research says otherwise.
The numbers speak for themselves
According to MIT research, purchased AI solutions succeed 67% of the time, while in-house builds succeed in only about a third of cases. That's a meaningful gap, and one worth weighing before you commit budget and engineering time to either path.
An approach for Dutch SMEs
Dutch SMEs typically don't have the IT infrastructure or the in-house capacity that larger organizations can draw on, which makes a deliberate, strategic approach essential. A few practical guidelines:
- Buy for standard processes: for routine or standardized tasks, purchased solutions usually deliver the best results. They're quick to implement and scale to your specific needs without a long build cycle.
- Build only where a process is genuinely differentiating: reserve in-house builds for processes that are unique to your business and offer real competitive advantage — accepting that this path carries higher risk.
- Set measurable goals up front: bake clear, measurable targets into your AI strategy from day one. Only about 5% of generative AI pilots go on to deliver measurable results — a target-first approach is what separates the two groups.
Why this decision matters
The buy-or-build call can materially affect your business's efficiency and profitability. Success or failure in AI projects usually comes down to how well the implementation and evaluation strategy was designed from the start. Weighing the options carefully and leaning on proven technology where you can meaningfully raises your odds of success.
Need help with your AI strategy?
Choosing between buy and build isn't always straightforward, and getting it wrong can be costly. Start by assessing your organization's AI readiness with our AI Readiness Assessment, then get in touch for a free introductory conversation. AI Advies Bureau helps Dutch SMEs make this call with advice tailored to their situation, not a one-size-fits-all playbook.