Build vs. buy is back in the headlines: How to make the right call

The author recommends a "buy-first" strategy for data and AI, suggesting that organizations should purchase foundational tools to accelerate time to value and avoid the immense complexity of building commodity features. Internal development should be reserved strictly for capabilities that provide a unique competitive advantage or define a company's core differentiation. This balanced approach allows teams to leverage proven vendor solutions for routine tasks while focusing their scarce talent on high-impact, proprietary innovation.