The Automat

Field notes from the bleeding edge of business

No Featured Post Selected

The Latest...

The Real Cost of a 'Free' AI Feature Bundled Into Software You Already Own

The Real Cost of a 'Free' AI Feature Bundled Into Software You Already Own

The Real Cost of a 'Free' AI Feature Bundled Into Software You Already OwnDrew Donaldson
Published on: 28/07/2026

Bundled AI is rarely free. A total cost of ownership breakdown of built-in AI features: data exposure, vendor lock-in, opportunity cost, and when free is genuinely right.

Buy Vs Build - AI Implementations & Integrations
The Best Way to Vet an AI Implementation Partner: A Buyer's Checklist

The Best Way to Vet an AI Implementation Partner: A Buyer's Checklist

The Best Way to Vet an AI Implementation Partner: A Buyer's ChecklistDrew Donaldson
Published on: 13/07/2026

A vendor-neutral checklist for choosing an AI implementation partner: what to ask, what to put in the SOW, and the red flags that predict a stalled pilot.

Buy Vs Build - AI Implementations & Integrations
Integration Is the Product: A Quiet Truth About Enterprise AI

Integration Is the Product: A Quiet Truth About Enterprise AI

Integration Is the Product: A Quiet Truth About Enterprise AIDrew Donaldson
Published on: 06/07/2026

In enterprise AI the model is now a commodity and systems integration is the real product. Why integration drives cost, value, and lock-in, and how to evaluate vendors accordingly.

Buy Vs Build - AI Implementations & Integrations
Off-the-Shelf vs Custom Agents: A Decision You Don't Have to Make Once

Off-the-Shelf vs Custom Agents: A Decision You Don't Have to Make Once

Off-the-Shelf vs Custom Agents: A Decision You Don't Have to Make OnceDrew Donaldson
Published on: 30/06/2026

Off-the-shelf vs custom AI is not a one-time choice. How 2026 buyers run both as a portfolio: buy commodity workflows, build only where it pays.

Buy Vs Build - AI Implementations & Integrations