The $1B validation of the "AI + People" model. Why tool-only approaches fail, and how managed outcomes create real value.
The Core Problem
You've likely invested in AI tools that automate 85% beautifully, but your team now spends disproportionate time managing the messy 15%—exceptions, errors, and edge cases the AI can't handle. You haven't bought a solution; you've bought a new, more complicated management problem.
It's nearly impossible to go a day without reading about a new, game-changing AI tool. The market is saturated with vendors promising "magic wands"—plug-and-play AI models that will instantly fix your operations, eliminate manual work, and unlock hidden efficiencies.
As a business leader, you know the reality is far more complex.
This is why a recent Inc.com article detailing the $1B "unicorn" valuation of a company called Invisible Technologies is so validating. Their entire, wildly successful model is built on a fundamental truth we have built our own business on for over 20 years: AI alone is not the answer.
⚠️ The 85% Problem
AI tools automate the easy 85% of tasks beautifully. But organizations quickly discover they're now spending more time (and money) managing the complex 15% of exceptions that the AI can't handle. The automation, instead of simplifying operations, adds a new layer of complexity.
The Inc. article highlights the journey of Invisible's founder, who came to a critical realization about the future of AI in business:
"AI alone doesn't work... Humans alone can't scale... The new model is AI plus humans, working in a new way."
This is the very essence of the fundamental difference between the "Tool Trap" and the "Partnership" model.
The Tool Trap (Vendor Model)
A vendor sells you a part—a software license, an AI model. They leave you with the risk, the integration, and the difficult, costly work of managing the 15% of exceptions. Executives don't want to become experts in 12 different AI models. They just want the job done.
The Managed Outcome (Partner Model)
A partner delivers the complete, guaranteed outcome. They take full ownership of the entire complex business process—the 85% automation AND the 15% of human expertise.
This $1B company, just like Shore Digital, doesn't just sell technology. They "run complex business processes" by seamlessly integrating a powerful AI platform with a skilled global workforce. They call this "Synthetic Intelligence." We call it Intelligent Data Services. The name doesn't matter. The model is what creates value.
For 20 years, Shore Group has run complex data operations. We lived the "85% Problem" before it had a name. We navigated the exact scaling challenges our SMB clients face. That hard-won experience is why we transformed our own business, building our Polaris platform not to sell as a tool, but to use as the engine for our managed services.
Our model—validated by the market's new "unicorns"—follows this approach:
Our AI-powered Polaris platform automates the 85%, ingesting messy data, performing complex reconciliations, and scraping websites at scale.
Our dedicated operations team—our "human-in-the-loop"—manages the critical 15%. They handle the exceptions, perform the quality assurance, and continuously train the models.
You don't manage software. You don't manage an offshore team. You get a single, predictable, SLA-backed "data product" delivered to your specifications. You get 100% of the value for 0% of the management burden.
💡 The Partnership Advantage
When you partner with a managed services provider who owns the outcome, you're not paying for software. You're paying for results. Your team stays focused on strategy instead of being trapped on the operational treadmill.
The "tool trap" is a dead end for growing businesses. You don't need another piece of software crowding your tech stack. You need a reliable, scalable partner to own the process and deliver the value.
If your team is still stuck handling the "last 15%" of your automation, managing tool integrations, and firefighting exceptions, it's time for a different approach. Let's have a conversation about how our fully managed, "AI + People" model can solve your operational challenges for good.
Schedule a consultation with our team to explore how the "AI + People" model can transform your operations.
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