The Great AI Debate: Point vs. Platform, Buy vs. Build

AI is something that is truly transforming global business services, in particular Agentic AI, and there is an incredible amount of discussion around the right and wrong way to use it and implement it within GBS. 

Two of the topics we hear the most questions about at SSON are regarding buy vs. build and platform vs. point solutions. There is a lot of information online regarding this topic, but it can often be biased, dependent on whether it’s written by a vendor and exactly what their solution is. Therefore, SSON invited AI expert Doug Shannon onto the Podcast to give his seasoned perspective.

Doug is a Visionary Leader in Intelligent Automation and AI.  He is a pioneer in driving innovation, operational excellence, and strategic vision across global organizations. Recognized among the Top 50 Intelligent Automation Leaders and twice awarded as a Top 25 Thought Leader in this space.

During this episode Doug and I discuss the following resources:

• SSON Research & Analytics State of the Industry Report, of which you can find a copy here.
• Shared Services & Outsourcing Week North America
• Doug's newsletter Brewing Insights.

Continue your Agentic AI journey...

The era of experimenting with AI is over. The Agentic AI in Shared Services Bootcamp (September 14, 2026, San Diego, CA), a one-day add-on to Shared Services & Outsourcing Week, helps GBS and shared services leaders move from exploration to execution. Discover how AI agents are powering autonomous service delivery, redesigning operating models, and scaling across core enterprise systems. The question is no longer if you adopt, but how fast you can scale.

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