The Automat

Field notes from the bleeding edge of business

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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 Checklist

Drew 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 Buildai implementation partner2026independent consultants & growth-stage techvendor evaluation checklist

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 Once

Drew 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 Buildoff the shelf vs custom AI2026AI agents for businesshybrid AI strategy

The Database Cleanup Nobody Wants to Pay For

The Database Cleanup Nobody Wants to Pay For

The Database Cleanup Nobody Wants to Pay For

Drew Donaldson

Published on: 07/06/2026

The Database Cleanup Nobody Wants to Pay For. Field notes from Automata Intelligentsia.

Buy Vs BuildAI2026Automata IntelligentsiaDrew Donaldson

The Integration Tax Nobody Puts in the Budget

The Integration Tax Nobody Puts in the Budget

The Integration Tax Nobody Puts in the Budget

Drew Donaldson

Published on: 01/06/2026

The Integration Tax Nobody Puts in the Budget. Field notes from Automata Intelligentsia.

Buy Vs BuildAI2026Automata IntelligentsiaDrew Donaldson