Most Firms Now Build Their Own AI Tools
Business and HR leaders should weigh in-house AI development costs and compliance risks against buying off-the-shelf software.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Remote Work
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A Remote survey of 3,250 business and HR leaders across eight countries found 91% of organisations built internal AI tools, automations, or workflows instead of buying off-the-shelf software in the past 12 months. For operators weighing AI spend, the finding points to a shift toward custom-built internal systems rather than vendor purchases.
Why it matters
Building tools in-house instead of buying them shifts cost from software licences toward internal development, data preparation, and governance. Ad hoc tool building that does not share data or controls can produce errors and compliance gaps, which the survey's findings flag as a risk.
Of 3,250 business and HR leaders surveyed across eight countries, 91% said their organisations built internal tools, automations, or workflows instead of buying off-the-shelf software in the past year. Only 46% describe custom AI development as a deliberate strategy, while another 46% build such tools on an ad hoc basis.
The players
Remote
Remote is a global employment platform that handles hiring, payroll, and compliance for distributed teams across many countries.
Censuswide
Censuswide is a market research firm that conducted the survey of business and HR leaders on Remote's behalf.
The details
Organisations are assembling their own AI-enabled tools, automations, and workflows rather than adopting packaged software, a pattern the survey places across the past 12 months. Respondents also reported barriers to getting more value from AI: 33% cited regulatory compliance concerns, and 30% said their data, processes, or knowledge systems are not ready for AI. Because ad hoc tools may not share data or controls, they can create errors and compliance gaps, which makes governance a practical cost line for operators building in-house.
Timeline
June 2026: Censuswide conducted survey fieldwork for Remote.
Past 12 months: Organisations built internal tools instead of buying software.
Nov. 3, 2026: Remote released the survey findings via PRNewswire.
Next two years: 90% of organisations intend to rely more on custom-built tools.
Market Landscape
The survey's findings describe a move away from buying packaged AI software toward internal builds, with Australia at 97% and Singapore at 96% leading on internal tool building. Germany and the United States lead on treating custom AI as a deliberate strategy, while the Netherlands has the lowest share building internal tools at 74%.
Operators should budget for internal development, data preparation, and governance alongside any AI tool spending, since building in-house shifts cost away from licences. Review data-sharing and compliance controls on ad hoc tools before they spread across teams.
The takeaway
The operating insight is that custom-built AI tools are becoming the default rather than the exception, which makes governance and data readiness central cost questions. Track whether the 90% expectation of greater reliance on custom tools shows up in your own vendor and development spending over the next two years.
Further reading
For broader context on how distributed teams are changing their hiring and operations, see the Remote Work section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Macau Business.
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