Better questions. Clearer decisions.

Start by checking whether an existing product covers the main workflow. A custom build becomes useful when your rules, device requirements or connections are central to the task. Compare setup, migration and maintenance as well as the interface. Bring one normal case and one exception to the discussion.

Bring the problem, the people affected, your current tools and the result you want. Share deadlines and budget constraints if you have them. A sketch, sample document or walkthrough is useful. Together, identify the smallest change that would make a meaningful difference and how you would evaluate it.

Rules-based automation follows defined conditions and actions. AI can interpret documents, questions or images where inputs vary. Both need clear inputs, visible results and a recovery path. Decide what a person must review based on the consequence of an error, and evaluate the workflow with representative examples.

Identify the records you need to exchange, which system owns them and who can grant access. Gather available API documentation. Define how updates move, how duplicates are avoided and what happens if the connection is unavailable. Include visibility for the person who has to resolve a failed update.