AI Isn’t Magic: Why Off-the-Shelf Tools Flop Without Customization

By Kristin Oelke, Managing Director, Growth Services, Brightrose Ventures, and author of Trust: Unlocking B2B Growth in Today’s AI World

Raise your hand if you’ve bought an AI tool that promised to “transform” your GTM. 🙋‍♀️ You plug it in, expect fireworks, and… crickets. Instead of saving time, you spend hours tweaking prompts, fixing bad data, or wondering why your shiny new AI isn’t delivering results.

You’re not alone. According to PwC’s 2024 AI Business Survey, 72% of companies say their AI initiatives underperform because they’re not integrated with existing processes.

Translation? Buying AI is easy. Making it work is hard.

The problem isn’t the tool—it’s the lack of customization. AI needs to be trained on your workflows, aligned with your sales and marketing goals, and connected to your tech stack. Without that, it’s just a smart toy sitting on the shelf.

Think of it like buying a treadmill. If it’s in your basement collecting dust, it’s not making you healthier. You need a program, a routine, and accountability.

At Brightrose Ventures, we go beyond plug-and-play. Our AI Agent Development service builds purpose-built AI for your sales, marketing, and customer success teams—integrated, customized, and ROI-focused from day one.

Because AI isn’t magic. But the right strategy + customization? That’s where the fireworks begin.