Sourcing, Procurement & Vendors

Buying AI is not like buying traditional software, and procurement processes that work well for standard enterprise technology can fail badly when applied to AI. The technology moves fast, vendor claims are often difficult to verify, and the long-term costs and dependencies are harder to predict. Evaluating AI vendors requires understanding not just what a system does today but how it will be maintained, updated, and improved over time. Lock-in risks are significant because AI systems often become deeply embedded in your workflows and data, making switching costs substantial. The vendor landscape is also volatile - startups get acquired, products pivot, pricing models change, and today's market leader can be tomorrow's legacy platform. Smart procurement means asking harder questions upfront, building in flexibility where possible, and maintaining enough internal capability to be an informed buyer rather than a passive consumer. It also means recognising that the build-versus-buy decision isn't one-time; it needs revisiting as your needs evolve and the market shifts.