Build Versus Buy – You Need an AI Product Not a Platform

Why MSPs should focus on ready-to-use AI products rather than building on general AI platforms. The choice you make today will determine your competitive position tomorrow.

The Platform Trap

When AI platforms like OpenAI's ChatGPT API first became accessible, many MSPs thought: "We'll just build our own AI tools." It seemed logical—why pay for a product when you can build exactly what you need?

Here's the reality: Building on AI platforms is like buying a car engine and thinking you can easily build a car around it. Sure, it's technically possible, but:

• • You need specialized expertise you don't have
• • Development takes 6-18 months (minimum)
• • Maintenance and updates become ongoing burdens
• • You're reinventing solutions that already exist

What MSPs Actually Need

MSPs don't need AI platforms—they need AI products that solve specific problems. Here's the difference:

AI Platforms (Build)

AI Products (Buy)

The Hidden Costs of Building

When MSPs choose to build on AI platforms, they often underestimate the true costs:

Development Resources

• • Senior developer time: $150,000+ per year
• • AI/ML expertise: $200,000+ per year (if you can find it)
• • Project management and testing
• • Infrastructure and hosting costs

Opportunity Costs

• • 12-18 months without AI benefits
• • Competitors gaining ground with existing solutions
• • Engineers still working inefficiently
• • Missed revenue opportunities

Ongoing Maintenance

• • Keeping up with AI model updates
• • Security patches and compliance
• • Bug fixes and feature enhancements
• • User training and support

The Product Advantage

Purpose-built AI products offer compelling advantages for MSPs:

Immediate Value

Products like xop.ai's Engineer Efficiency tools can be deployed in days, not months. You start seeing benefits immediately:

• • Ticket summarization works out of the box
• • Knowledge search integrates with existing systems
• • Time tracking automation starts day one

MSP-Specific Design

Products built for MSPs understand your workflows:

• • Native ConnectWise Manage integration
• • Understanding of MSP terminology and processes
• • Billing and time tracking optimization
• • Client communication templates

Continuous Improvement

Product vendors continuously improve their solutions:

• • Regular feature updates
• • New integrations added
• • Performance optimizations
• • Community-driven enhancements

When Building Makes Sense

There are limited scenarios where building might make sense:

• • You have unique requirements that no product addresses
• • You have dedicated AI/ML development expertise
• • You plan to productize your solution for other MSPs
• • You have 12+ months to invest without ROI expectations

For 99% of MSPs, these conditions don't apply.

The Smart Approach

The smartest MSPs are taking this approach:

1. 1. Start with products: Deploy proven AI solutions immediately
2. 2. Measure results: Track ROI and identify gaps
3. 3. Expand strategically: Add more AI products as needed
4. 4. Consider custom only: After you've maximized product value

The Bottom Line

AI is moving too fast for MSPs to build everything from scratch. While your competitors spend months building basic AI tools, you could be delivering better service, improving efficiency, and growing revenue with proven AI products.

The question isn't whether you can build AI solutions—it's whether you should. In most cases, the answer is a resounding no.