Off-the-shelf AI vs. Custom AI: Choosing the right fit

As AI adoption accelerates, organisations must decide how to incorporate AI into their strategy. This guide explores considerations such as cost, speed, and data privacy for selecting off-the-shelf or custom AI.

Off-the-shelf AI These are pre-built tools designed by third-party vendors to solve common problems. They’re quick to deploy, cost-effective, and user-friendly, especially for teams without deep expertise.

Feature	Description
Cost-Effective	Lower upfront costs; shared development expenses.
Quick Deployment	Pre-trained models mean faster implementation.
User-Friendly	Minimal expertise needed.
Vendor Support	Updates, integration tools, and documentation included.

Example: Microsoft 365 Copilot Copilot integrates AI across Word, Outlook, Excel, Teams, and more. It helps users write emails, create presentations, and summarise meetings, all within Microsoft's secure environment. For instance, in Teams, it can attend meetings, transcribe conversations, and create searchable summaries.

Still, businesses must manage file access to avoid unintentional data exposure.

Agentic AI: The next step Agentic AI is emerging as a powerful tool: autonomous systems trained for specific tasks. These AI agents can operate independently, drawing on internal data systems to complete their tasks.

Platforms like Copilot Studio enable businesses to build agents themselves offering a blend of off-the-shelf simplicity and custom capabilities. Agents can be trained to handle licensing, support, or data integration across HR, finance, and CRM systems.

Custom AI Custom AI involves building or fine-tuning models of your own. It offers control and strategic advantage but demands more time, budget, and knowledge.

Feature	Description
Customisation	Designed for your specific challenges.
Data Control	Keeps data internal.
Competitive Edge	Can become a proprietary asset.
Time & Cost	Large development and maintenance efforts.

It’s ideal for businesses with unique workflows or compliance needs. For example, a company needing AI that accesses multiple internal systems securely might opt for custom-built solutions.

How to choose Ask yourself:

• Are your needs generic or highly specific?
• What’s your budget and timeline?
• Do you handle regulated or confidential data?
• Will your needs grow over time?

Best practices Regardless of the path you choose:

• Secure leadership buy-in.
• Start with proof of concept, then pilot and scale.
• Use cross-functional teams.
• Offer training and change support.
• Track success through KPIs.

Conclusion Off-the-shelf AI offers speed and simplicity; custom AI delivers depth and differentiation. The choice depends on your goals, data, and resources. As a Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider, we support Microsoft 365 Copilot adoption and offer in-house custom AI development through our Data & AI team – supporting you no matter your needs.

For more information, you can reach us through https://www.fluidone.com/contact, call us at 01273 384100 or email us at brighton@fluidone.com to get in touch with our experts today to find out how we can help empower your business.