McKinsey Finds 32% Of Firms Build Software With AI Instead Of Buying

The Common Question

Is it cheaper to build software with AI than buy a SaaS subscription?

The Lesson in This Case

Small businesses that build instead of buy with AI report no licensing fees and full ownership of the tool – but 32% of organizations making that shift at scale have learned that maintenance costs can quietly erase early savings. The gap between large organizations (32%) and small firms (22%) adopting this model reflects who has the technical staff to support what AI builds, not just who has access to the tools. Before canceling a SaaS contract, map the ongoing upkeep your team will actually own, because a free build that no one can maintain is just a different kind of invoice.

Originally reported by Forbes. Read the full story here.