The how of AI investment is not as straightforward as businesses have assumed, and this is one of the core reasons organisations have struggled to realise return on investment to date. Do we build it ourselves? Buy something off the shelf? Partner with others? Rent access via a subscription? All paths have merits - and risks. Too often, organisations make AI investment decisions in isolation, without a clear framework to guide the path ahead.

That's where The Insight of Things AI Investment Mix Model comes in.

What is the AI Investment Mix Model?

The AI Investment Mix Model is a strategic framework to help organisations assess, select, and apply the right combination of AI provisioning approaches based on their unique goals, capabilities, and market context. Rather than defaulting to a single path (e.g. "We build everything ourselves"), this model recognises that different use cases, and different parts of the business, may require different approaches.

The Six Provisioning Modes

The model outlines six primary ways organisations can provision AI capability:

Each of these provisioning modes carries distinct trade-offs in terms of control, cost, agility, IP ownershp, and risk.

When to Use Each Mode

A critical strength of the model is its ability to guide when each mode is most appropriate. For example:

• Build when you need full control, competitive differentiation, or to protect sensitive data.
• Acquire when you want to rapidly onboard AI capability or IP that aligns with your strategy.
• Outsource when you need speed but lack internal capability.
• Collaborate when you want shared risk, co-innovation, or access to external ecosystems.
• COTS (Commercial-Off-The-Shelf) when proven solutions exist and speed-to-value matters most.
• Rent when flexibility, affordability, or experimentation are key.

We use a specific process to identify the AI Investment mix right for your organisation:

Evaluation: Making Smart, Sustainable Choices

The model isn't just about making the right initial choice - it's also about evaluating the organisation's capability to deliver on that choice.

Our evaluation considers:

• Organisational readiness
• Strategic fit with business goals
• Governance and risk appetite
• Time-to-value and scalability
• Total cost of ownership and sustainability

Organisations can use the model to pressure-test their decisions, identify gaps, and build confidence that their AI strategy is both bold and well-grounded.

The Benefits

Applying this model delivers real, measurable value:

• Strategic clarity - align investment with enterprise goals
• Capability alignment - match internal skills and resources to the right provisioning modes
• Informed trade-offs - make conscious decisions around speed, control, and cost
• Governance and accountability - improve transparency, oversight, and risk management
• Portfolio thinking - view AI investment as a balanced portfolio, not a binary choice

Ready to Rethink Your AI Strategy?

AI isn't just a technology - it is a capability that must be provisioned, managed and evolved with intent. The Insight of Things AI Investment Mix Model helps your organisation make smarter, more strategic decisions about how to invest in AI, not just what to build or buy.

If your organisation is looking to scale AI with purpose, clarity and confidence, we'd love to help.

Contact us or explore how we support clients through AI strategy, governance, and capability development.