Adaptability Over Features: Building an AI Strategy That Won't Be Obsolete Next Tuesday

‍Blog Summary

Procuring AI solutions today is a challenge because the technology is evolving at a rapid, relentless pace. The traditional software procurement model, which focuses on a product's features, is outdated and ineffective for AI, where a "cutting-edge" solution can become obsolete in a matter of months. To succeed, organizations must shift their focus from features to adaptability. This means evaluating potential partners on their ability to build modular platforms that can easily incorporate new models and technologies as they emerge. The most critical factor is not the product itself but the expertise of the team behind it, which can act as a long-term partner to navigate the continuously changing AI landscape.

Key Questions Answered by the Article

Why is a feature-focused approach to AI procurement a mistake?

A feature-focused approach is a mistake because AI is a moving target. The features that seem cutting-edge today can become obsolete tomorrow. This traditional procurement method, which works for static software, is ineffective in an AI environment where rapid change is the only constant. A focus on features can lead to a significant investment in a solution that quickly becomes irrelevant.

What is the "adaptability advantage" and how does it change the criteria for choosing an AI solution?

The "adaptability advantage" is the ability of an AI solution to continuously evolve with new technologies and business needs. It changes the procurement criteria from "What can this solution do today?" to "How quickly can this solution be adapted to a new model or capability?" This shifts the focus from a product's current features to the flexibility and future-proofing of its architecture.

Why should a company prioritize the team over the product when selecting an AI partner?

A company should prioritize the team because no one can predict what AI capabilities will exist in six months. The most valuable asset is not a fixed product but a team with the expertise to build and continuously evolve a flexible AI platform. This team becomes a long-term partner that can help the company navigate an uncertain landscape, ensuring that the AI solution remains relevant and valuable over time.

Adaptability Over Features: Building an AI Strategy That Won't Be Obsolete Next Tuesday

Last month's cutting-edge large language model is this month's digital dinosaur. The groundbreaking image generator you just implemented? There's already something twice as good at half the cost. That carefully crafted prompt engineering strategy your team spent weeks developing? The new models don't even use the same syntax.

Welcome to AI procurement in 2025, where the only constant is rapid, relentless change.

The Feature Trap

Traditional software procurement focuses heavily on features—those tidy little checkboxes on RFP documents that procurement teams love to tick. "Does it do X? Does it integrate with Y? Can it produce reports in format Z?"

This approach made perfect sense in a world where software changed incrementally, with major releases once a year. You could evaluate features, make a purchase, and reasonably expect those capabilities to remain relevant for the duration of your contract.

With AI, feature-focused procurement is like trying to hit a moving target while riding a roller coaster—blindfolded—in a thunderstorm.

The Adaptability Advantage

The organizations thriving amidst this chaos have shifted their focus from features to adaptability. Rather than asking, "What can this AI solution do today?" They ask, "How easily can this solution evolve with our needs and technological advances?"

This requires evaluating potential partners on entirely different criteria:

• How quickly can they incorporate new models as they emerge?
• How effectively do they future-proof their architecture?
• What's their track record of adapting to major technological shifts?
• How do they approach continuous learning and improvement of AI systems?

It's less about what buttons the software has and more about how quickly new buttons can be added—or old ones removed—as needs change.

The Platform Play

This shift explains why the most successful AI implementations are built as platforms rather than products. A platform approach provides the foundation and framework to accommodate rapidly evolving components.

Think of it as building a house with modular rooms that can be swapped. You start with the foundation and basic structure, but you can upgrade the kitchen next year, expand the living room the year after, or add smart home features as they become available—all without tearing down and rebuilding the entire house.

The Team Behind the Technology

And this is precisely why the procurement paradigm has flipped from product-centric to team-centric. The critical question isn't "Which AI solution should we buy?" but rather "Who has the expertise to build and continuously evolve our AI platform?"

Look for teams with:

1. A track record of quickly adapting to technological shifts
2. Experience building flexible, modular systems
3. Deep knowledge across multiple AI domains and vendors
4. A learning mindset that anticipates and embraces change
5. The ability to translate your business needs into technical requirements (and vice versa)

Because let's be honest—no one knows precisely what AI capabilities will be available six months from now, let alone two years from now. The team that acknowledges this uncertainty and builds with adaptability as a core principle will deliver far more value than one that promises specific features that may soon be irrelevant.

From Procurement to Partnership

This reality transforms how organizations should approach AI vendor relationships. Rather than the traditional vendor-client dynamic, successful AI implementation requires genuine partnership.

You're not just buying a product; you're investing in a relationship with a team that will help you navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape, continuously adapting your strategy and implementations as new capabilities emerge and business needs grow.

The Bottom Line

In the swirling storm of AI advancement, the organizations that thrive will not be those that pick the perfect product at a single point in time. They'll be the ones that build adaptable platforms with expert partners who can help them continuously evolve.

Because in AI, the race doesn't go to the swift—it goes to the adaptable. And adaptability isn't something you can buy in a box. It's something you build with the right team.

About Slingr

SLINGR leverages the best available tools to create meaningful business solutions tailored to your needs. Combining low-code efficiency with enterprise-grade architecture empowers organizations to adapt quickly to today's rapidly evolving technology landscape. Our team excels at helping businesses navigate change, implement intelligent workflows, and extract maximum value from their technology investments.