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 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 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 Build - AI Implementations & Integrations

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 Build - AI Implementations & Integrations

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 Build - AI Implementations & Integrations