AI ROI Simulator - Build vs Buy
ActiveCompare build-vs-buy options with expected return, payback period, and risk-adjusted outcomes.
Buy
Recommended Path
Key Findings
- Buy path reaches break-even 6 months earlier due to lower upfront cost and faster implementation.
- Build path carries 45% execution risk — timeline slippage alone reduces year-1 ROI by 28%.
- Worst-case delay analysis shows Buy path remains positive ROI even with 4-month slippage; Build turns negative.
Select Buy for this deployment. The 53-point ROI gap favors Buy across all three scenarios. Revisit Build only if IP differentiation value exceeds 25% — set that in Strategic Factors below.
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Tool Model Metadata
- Model Version:
- 1.3
- Last Reviewed:
- Apr 2026
- Decision Model:
- Internal Architecture Framework
Methodology
AI Build vs Buy ROI Model
Compares build and buy pathways using expected-value financial logic, implementation timelines, and risk-adjusted outcomes.
Framework Alignment
- FinOps Framework
Economics
- Wardley Mapping
Strategy