Build or Buy? The AI Choice Reshaping AEC

Every AEC firm faces it: Do we build our own AI tools or buy what's already on the market?

In this episode of KP Unpacked, the number one Podcast in AEC, Jeff Echols and Frank Lazaro dive deep into the strategic dilemma that's dominating boardrooms and innovation teams across the built world.

From skyrocketing subscription costs to the reality of custom bot deployment in under 10 minutes, they unpack the tradeoffs, timing, and total cost of ownership behind the build vs. buy decision.

You’ll hear:

• Why most firms overestimate the need to build
• The real ROI of custom AI tools
• How low-code platforms are changing the game
• The hidden cost of falling in love with building

Six sharp takeaways to guide your AI investment strategy

1. Start with the problem, not the tool.
   No AI investment works unless it maps to a real pain point.
2. Speed > perfection.
   Getting something into the hands of your team beats endless deliberation.
3. Adoption is your signal.
   Give teams low-stakes tools first — and watch what they build around them.
4. Cost strategy matters.
   $20 tools add up. But so does maintaining custom code. Run the real math.
5. Don’t build for your ego.
   The most overengineered tools often become the least used.
6. Don’t wait.
   Action beats analysis. Start with buy, evolve to build. But move.

Whether you’re a 5-person studio or a 5,000-person firm, this conversation will challenge how you think about innovation, adoption, and what it actually takes to future-proof your tech stack.

Sounds like you? Join the waitlist at https://kpreddy.co/

Check out one of our Catalyst conversation starters, AEC Needs More High-Agency Thinkers

Hope to see you there!