Choosing between a custom AI development service and an off-the-shelf AI product for your business operations is not as easy as selecting the color of your company’s logo. You need to have a thorough understanding of your business model along with a general overview of all the “yays and nays” of both service models to make the right choice. Don’t worry, we are here to help you analyze and find the correct path for your business workflow!
Artificial intelligence has expanded its footprints across multiple industries with its efficient and insightful solutions. Companies at every scale are recognizing the potential of integrating AI services within their business operations globally, primarily to:
- Streamline the Workflow
- Gain a Competitive Edge
- Reduce Operational Costs
- Eliminate Manual Errors and much more…
However, in order to achieve this every company has two options - either a custom AI development service or a ready-made AI solution. Now, this is potentially one of the most vital business optimization decisions you may have to take for your business, as both of these services impact your business optimization in different ways. Deciding which AI services is fit for your business based on a careful assessment of multiple factors that can influence the effectiveness of the services on your business such as:
- The Complexity of the Business
- Data Available for Training
- Solution Expected from the Model
- Budget for the Project and much more…
There are two major ways of implementing AI solutions in your business operations, either you can use your business data to train a custom AI solution. Or you can purchase or subscribe to a pre-built product from one of the artificial intelligence vendors. Depending on the requirements of your business you can select which one of the two fits your business needs appropriately.
A pre-built AI model uses general datasets to train their solutions and can help an organization in automating some of the generic aspects of a job. Such as daily inventory analysis for a product-based business, or filtering & storing regular business data for audits. Whereas, a custom AI model is usually built with the goal of answering questions specific to your business operations. They are expected to provide solutions for core business decisions in a logical and statistically appropriate format. A custom AI solution can provide your organization with well-rounded solutions for questions like:
- What will be the demand for an X product in the coming few months?
- How can I increase the profit margins of my business?
- What are the workflow sections of my business that need improvement?
So in conclusion we can say that if your business goals are highly inspired to fix a business problem that is exclusive to you then opting for a custom AI model should be the right way to go. However, if your business only cares about some generic optimization tweaks then an off-the-shelf model might work as well. Although a custom AI software will deliver superior results in every scenario.
Opting for a Custom AI Model? Here’s What to Expect!
Even though there can be a few initial bumps in the development of custom AI software, but the long-term benefits can easily justify these additional efforts. Let us now discuss what are the benefits of choosing tailor-made AI solutions and some of the key factors that you need to keep in mind during the development process.
The Advantages of Developing a Custom AI Model:
The accuracy of the insights and the overall control over your business while using a custom AI model will always be superior to the services of an off-the-shelf model. A custom AI model makes your business flexible toward the ever-evolving market needs. Here’s a comprehensive discussion about why an AI development model should be your go-to choice for the proceedings of your business.
[1] Better Adaptability with your Infrastructure
The datasets used to train a custom AI solution generally consist of the first-party data of your company. This makes the model developed using this data perfect to address the specific needs of your business. With pre-built models, it is almost impossible to guarantee that the solution model covers the entire domain of your business needs as it is built based on generic training datasets.
For example, let’s consider you own an antique store and you have collectibles from all across the world. You chose to buy a prebuilt AI model to recommend the customer's items based on their interests. However, due to the lack of training and the complexity of the specifications of each unique item, the AI model provided uncertain results. In this scenario, custom AI solutions would be a better choice as they will have sufficient training to fulfill the specific needs of your business.
[2] Full Control Over the Custom Model
Imagine you own a real estate business and use an off-the-shelf AI solution where the service provider has included a feature that lets you find potential clients for your properties based on their search history. But, due to some change in the privacy policy of your service provider that feature was redesigned to be significantly less effective from your AI solution. Nightmare worthy right?
With BinaryFolks’ custom artificial intelligence development service, you can design solutions that give you complete control over your services and features list. Instead of worrying about what features your service providers may exclude next, you can focus on further modifying your useful features to help your business gain insights more efficiently
[3] Competitive Edge
Imagine your business uses a customized AI model and you’re competing with a large array of businesses that provide logistics services to the customers of a large e-commerce chain. A recent survey showed that customers prefer to receive detailed updates about the status of their shipments. Even in the rare scenarios when the shipment was delayed, if the logistics firm provided the customers with valid reasons for why the delivery was late on their apps, the customers provided positive feedback when they received the product.
Now, as you had a custom AI model, you could quickly put this insight into action. Your company added a comprehensive update system that provides customers an update about the whereabouts of their shipments on demand. Considering your competitors were using an off-the-shelf AI model it was not so easy for them to implement this idea. By the time they got their hands on this feature, you were able to acquire a lot of superior reviews for your services.
Our AI developers have mastered the art of designing AI models that can rotate features within extremely short periods based on the business’ requirements. This allows your business to keep up with the ever-changing market trends and provides your businesses with a constant advantage over the businesses that are dependent on service-based AI softwares.
[4] Better Data Security
No matter what the scale of your business, keeping your data secured should be your topmost priority. Allowing the service providers access to your private business data is not the most secure choice in the long run. Even after reading their terms and conditions, you cannot be entirely sure about the credibility of the people who can access your shared business data. A custom AI model tackles this issue effectively, with no service provider or external party in a place you can be assured that your business data is secured within your business infrastructure.
As a custom AI development company, we develop your AI models under strict NDAs to ensure that your AI projects along with your business data are legally secured. Based on your preferences we can either keep the data confidential to us, in case you need future assistance for your AI solutions and don’t want to go through the hassle of providing us with all the data again. Or we can completely scrap the data to affirm the fact that your business data is strictly exclusive to your database.
The Disadvantages that Need to be Addressed for a Custom AI Solution:
It is fairly obvious that making an AI solution from scratch is going to take more effort than picking up a pre-built model from the shelf of a marketplace. But wouldn’t you be willing to make the extra effort if the difference in the results compare between an authentic fresh-baked Italian margarita pizza and a cold slice from the dollar store? Here’s a list of a few short-term speedbumps that you have to handle during the development of a custom AI model:
[1] Development Cost
The initial hit on the budget is a major turn-off for many companies who plan to develop a custom AI project. However, it is a one-time investment where you own 100% of the model you develop. In alternative scenarios, you are liable to pay subscription fees to get uninterrupted services.
Our AI developers have hands-on experience with designing innovative and efficient AI models that will help your business to optimize workflow and reduce costs. This will help your company in recouping the expenses of development and eventually boost your profit margins in a short period of time.
[2] Time-Consuming
Depending on the situation of your business data, the development of a custom AI service can take a decent amount of time to be completely operational. If your data is stored in a structured format the development time would be reduced by a certain amount, but still, it will take longer to develop compared to a ready-made solution.
BinaryFolks’ systematic custom AI development services helps your business to structure your raw business data with the help of cutting-edge technologies to make sure you have your AI solution up and running in the shortest possible time frame.
[3] Maintenance
When you buy a prebuilt solution, you don’t have to care about maintaining the software or any other components, the service provider does that for you. But for a custom solution, you may have to assign some time towards this additional task. This is not necessarily a bad thing as you will have relatively better insights into the functionality of your solutions.
Our custom AI software development team provides post-implementation support and maintenance services to safeguard your software from any long-term issues that may arise.
[4] Data Dependency
It is essential to make sure that the data you are using is evenly balanced across various classes to avoid the risk of bias in your artificial intelligence model. Using an inappropriate data set can be critical for the accuracy and overall reliability of your software. Although this is just a pre-production concern, BinaryFolks’ custom AI development team will make sure that you don’t have to worry about this issue whatsoever. BinaryFolks’ AI developers are well-versed in structuring balanced datasets and algorithms to make sure that the training model is independent of any obvious bias issues.
What Follows if You Go the Off-the-Shelf AI Solution Path?
Ready-made AI solutions are used to solve generic business problems that have already been resolved by a service provider. These solution models are trained using basic data sets which may lead to relatively less accurate results than what you would have received from an AI model that was trained specifically for your data.
The Pros of an Off-the-Shelf Model:
A ready-made AI solution may not be helping you to create your unique identity in comparison to your industry rivals. But it can still be useful to optimize the business efficiency and eliminate manual errors from the initial phase of your business. Here’s a list of reasons to choose an off-the-shelf AI solution for your business objectives:
[1] When Your Financial Runway Can’t Even Fit the Plane
One of the ‘must-have’ features of facility management software is asset management, which enables organizations to access details, monitor, and control their facility spaces, assets, and equipment from a single platform. This increases long-term system cohesion, boots reliability, improves compliance and provides optimal functionality in the most cost-effective way. Additionally, you can also develop the asset management module of your FM software to keep track of all the physical assets and equipment of the organization using GPS and other web-based technologies.
[2] When Your Software Requirement was Due Yesterday
As off-the-shelf AI software is designed with the help of generic training data it is quicker to deploy them in your business’ infrastructure. However, as the core features are included during the training period, it is difficult to include any special features in your model without transfer learning. This beats the core purpose of off-the-shelf software, which is providing clients with software models that are pre-trained and ready to use from the inception.
[3] When you Skipped your DIY Classes
Subscribing to avail of ready-made AI services from a trusted vendor can provide you with a model that is optimized in terms of performance and reduced bias. The service provider uses machine learning to train their AI models on a wide variety of generic datasets. This affirms that the efficiency and accuracy of the features they provide are superior or at least on par with their competitors.
The Cons of Using an Off-the-Shelf AI Model:
Getting a ready-made AI software solution for your business can be a tempting choice as it can be easily installed and provides you with a decent chunk of features and services. However, as a stakeholder, you should always be sure about both the short and long terms of your business before you make this decision. Here’s a list of the few reasons why a ready-made service may disrupt the long-term goals of your business:
[1] Lack of Control
Off-the-shelf AI models are designed to fulfill general business needs, these requirements are supposed to be valid across a large domain of businesses. Staying on top of the industry trends becomes challenging with these models as you need to be on your toes and develop a feature complimenting the trend before anyone else in the industry, to draw the customer’s attention. However, in the prebuilt models you share these services with thousands of other companies, including a large number of your direct competitors. And thus staying ahead of the competition is simply not possible.
[2] Limited Customization
Since a major part of these models is trained using run-of-the-mill datasets, incorporating a unique feature or data source might seem to be a challenge. Using techniques like transfer learning or fine-tuning your pre-built models to outmaneuver these issues can backfire in the long run. As the service providers will charge you for every extra service they provide, which directly negates one of the most attractive USPs of off-the-shelf software.
[3] Data Security Issues
Whether your off-the-shelf AI model is installed locally or you access it via a cloud, being aware of the whereabouts of your business data is an important security measure. While subscribing to a cloud-based service, you directly upload your business data to the vendor’s central database, now if their security systems are breached your data might be exposed to attackers. Even when your AI model is installed locally the model sends your business data to the vendors for the sake of “enhanced experience”, this increases the risk of compromising your data.
[4] Vendor Lock-In
Whether your off-the-shelf AI model is installed locally or you access it via a cloud, being aware of the whereabouts of your business data is an important security measure. While subscribing to a cloud-based service, you directly upload your business data to the vendor’s central database, now if their security systems are breached your data might be exposed to attackers. Even when your AI model is installed locally the model sends your business data to the vendors for the sake of “enhanced experience”, this increases the risk of compromising your data.
Custom AI Development Or A Ready-Made AI Solution - Which Suits your Business Better?
With the previous comparison, it is pretty safe to say that opting for a customized AI model is superior to picking a pre-built solution if you want your company to have its unique identity. Have full control over your AI solution with both hands on the steering wheel, and modify the model in the exact way that you want. Instead of giving the model vague instructions from the passenger’s seat.
Want to improve the scalability of your model? Check!
Want to add a brand new feature that is trending in the market? Check!
Want to revise the development process of your AI model in detail to improve the maintenance process? No Problem!
Here’s a list of the few integral reasons why you should pick BinaryFolks’ custom AI development service. If you:
- Value quality features more than a few extra pennies that an off-the-shelf model will save for you.
- Wish to capitalize on your business data and get the best out of it.
- Do not want to cage your extraordinary ideas within the boundaries of an ordinary solution model.
Then, you have made the right choice for your business. In case your business lacks either one of the three points you can discuss some additional alternatives with our AI Consultants.
Talk to BinaryFolks’ AI Consultants!
Top 3 Reasons Why You Should Choose For BinaryFolks as Your Custom AI Development Partner!
Now that you have a holistic view of both custom and off-the-shelf AI solutions, let’s quickly discuss how BinaryFolks can help you if you’re thinking about opting for the custom AI development approach!
[1] We Use Cutting Edge Technologies to Provide Scalable and Efficient Custom AI Solutions.
Our custom AI software development team is thoroughly experienced with extracting the potential out of modern AI services to provide you with AI solutions that can be updated to tweak their capacities as per your business requirements. This will help your business reduce costs and improve profit margins. Here’s a list of some of the AI technologies we have mastered:
- Natural Language Processing Services
- Computer Vision Services
- Machine Learning Services
- Deep Learning Services
- Business Process Automation
- Predictive Analysis
[2] Our AI Developers Have Extensive Experience in Developing Superior Custom AI Solutions
With years of experience in the custom software development industry, BinaryFolks can provide you with AI solutions that are customized to fit your business perfectly like your car in the last spot of a busy parking lot. Our AI developers can build AI models from the ground up that are accurate and streamlined, more than any store-bought AI model trained on generic data sets. We help you analyze the market trends and implement features way before your competitors get a hold of them to provide you with a default advantage.
[3] Get Professional Assistance From BinaryFolk’s Custom AI Development Team Anytime you Need an Upgrade
Whether you want to build a solution from scratch or you wish to integrate artificial intelligence into your pre-existing infrastructure. Our custom software development team is always excited to discuss your AI-related concerns and provide you with professional consultancy and development. Even after the deployment of your AI solution, you can contact us anytime you want a maintenance service or you want to add state-of-the-art features based on the market trends.
Conclusion
We have finally explored all the ups and downs that accompany both the development of custom AI software and the implementation of a ready-made AI solution. You must have made up your mind about which of the services suits your business better. If not, here’s a summary of all the major points we just discussed to help you brainstorm the correct route for your business.
Key Takeaways if You Choose a Custom AI Model
Pros:
- Better Adaptability with your Infrastructure
- Full Control Over the Custom Model
- Competitive Edge
- Better Data Security
Cons:
- Development Cost
- Time-Consuming
- Maintenance
- Data Dependency
Key Takeaways if You Chose an Off-The-Shelf AI Software
Pros:
- Cost Effective
- Quick Deployment
- Pre-Tuned for Performance and Bias
Cons:
- Lack of Control
- Limited Customization
- Data Security Issues
- Vendor Lock-In
Start your Custom AI Development Journey
