Every AI vendor demos beautifully. Choosing well means ignoring the demo and scoring each option against the same five questions - because the tool that looks best in a controlled pitch is often not the one that fits your workflow, data and budget.
The five-question scorecard
- Job fit - does it solve the specific task you named, or a general problem you do not have?
- Integration - does it work with the systems you already run, or demand a rebuild?
- Data handling - where does your data go, and who can see it?
- Total cost - licence plus training, integration and usage-based charges
- Exit - can you get your data out and switch if it disappoints?
Score each solution 1-5 on all five. The winner is rarely the flashiest.
Test on your own case
Never decide on the vendor's demo data. Run a short trial on your real work - it exposes the gap between the pitch and the fit. This pairs naturally with the questions to ask before buying any AI tool.
The bottom line
Compare AI solutions on fit, data, total cost and exit - not on the demo. Building that disciplined selection habit is a core outcome of the Strategic Application of AI in Business course at London School of Business UK. Enquire today.