
Building AI Yourself vs Hiring an Agency: An Honest Comparison
If you have a capable dev team and straightforward needs, DIY AI can work. But most NZ businesses underestimate the ongoing maintenance burden. Here's an honest look at both options.

If you have a capable dev team and straightforward needs, DIY AI can work. But most NZ businesses underestimate the ongoing maintenance burden. Here's an honest look at both options.

An NZ admin role costs $55-65k per year. AI automation starts at $99/mo. But the real comparison is more nuanced than that. Here's the honest breakdown.

Generic chatbots miss the mark for NZ real estate. After-hours enquiries, property matching, and REA compliance all need a solution built for how Kiwi agents actually work.

Off-the-shelf medical AI vs custom solutions — what actually works for NZ healthcare providers navigating privacy codes and local systems.

Global legal AI tools like Harvey and CoCounsel are impressive, but they were built for US and UK law. NZ firms need solutions that understand our legislation, our compliance requirements, and our market size.

NZ call centre agents cost $25-40/hr. AI voice agents work 24/7. But the right choice isn't always about cost — here's when each option wins.

ChatGPT is great for individual productivity. But there's a gap between using AI at your desk and having AI run your business processes. Here's when to cross it.

Zapier is brilliant for simple automations. But when your workflows get complex, you hit a wall. Here's an honest breakdown of when each option makes sense for NZ businesses.

Offshore developers cost $30-50/hr. NZ agencies charge $150-200/hr. But hourly rate is the wrong metric — here's what actually determines total cost.

Zapier, Make, n8n, Power Automate, or custom AI — which automation platform actually fits NZ businesses? A no-fluff comparison with real pricing.