8 questions before integrating AI into your app

A period of rapid innovation

Integrating AI into applications requires considerable effort during a period of accelerating innovation. These choices aren’t trivial: according to Lucidworks’ 2024 study, half of executives say they get little benefit from their generative AI projects, often due to underestimated implementation costs and a lack of upfront method.

Agora Software, an editor for software editors, presents a strategic checklist to guide product directors through AI implementation decisions.

The 8-question checklist

1. Which features are suited to a conversational format?

Not all software functions lend themselves to a conversational interface. Identify those involving simple, recurring requests; complex navigation that discourages users; or access from mobile contexts.

2. How do your users want to interact?

Languages spoken, preferred channels (Teams, WhatsApp, mobile, web), usage contexts (field, office, travel): your users’ preferences must guide the implementation.

3. Should client-specific customisation be enabled?

Some clients have specific business vocabulary, business rules or processes. Your architecture must allow this customisation without multiplying maintenance costs. In payroll software, for instance, each client applies a different collective bargaining agreement, with its own bonus and adjustment rules: the conversational agent must adapt without triggering a dedicated development effort for every new client.

4. How will the AI evolve with the product?

The AI must be able to adapt to new features developed and to the growth of your customer base. Plan for scalability from the outset.

5. What regulatory and security boundaries apply?

GDPR, confidentiality of HR or financial data, sector requirements: regulatory constraints must be built into the architecture from the start, not added as an afterthought.

6. How can costs be modelled to manage budget risks?

Infrastructure, model, maintenance and support costs: anticipate a sustainable economic model as usage grows.

7. Will AI be a default feature or a separate offering?

Integrating AI at the core of the product or offering it as an optional module? This decision impacts positioning, pricing and user experience.

8. Where can the necessary skills be found?

Internal team, external partners, packaged technology? Honestly evaluate what you master and what you need to outsource or acquire.

Agora Software, editor for editors

Taking these 8 questions seriously upfront always costs less than discovering the answers in production. Agora Software supports publishers on every one of them, from picking use cases through to a multilingual, omnichannel architecture.