Services · Custom builds
The right build starts with the whole business, not the software. I scope your sales, marketing and operations, flag the areas that could and should be automated with AI, then bring in the right AI or build contact. In some cases, I set it up myself.
At a glance
Promptwise Advisory separates custom builds into two kinds of scoping. Founder Adam Agresta does the business scoping across sales, marketing and operations, flagging if, where, what, how and why AI should help, at A$250 an hour, agreed upfront, and hands over a plain-English brief. The builder then does the technical scoping, quotes the build and delivers it.
How a build gets scoped
I work out whether, where and why AI should help your business. Your builder then works out exactly how to build it and quotes the build.
You get: a plain-English brief of what to build and why. A$250/hr, agreed upfront.
You get: a written scope and quote for the actual build, from the builder.
You get: a working tool your team uses, on accounts you own.
General overview
Think of it like a building. People only see the front door, but a lot sits behind it. Every custom build, from a simple internal tool to a full platform, has these eight parts. AI makes the screens and code faster to build. It doesn’t do the thinking for you.
What people see
What your customers and team actually use: a web app, a phone app, a client portal, a chat window, or a helper inside Slack or Teams.
Who can get in and what each person can see. Your sales rep sees their deals, your manager sees everyone’s, a client sees only their own.
What does the work
The AI that reads, writes, sorts and answers, trained on your own playbooks and data, with a human checking anything that matters.
The rules and steps that run in the background: when a lead comes in, do this; every Monday, send that; if a deal stalls, flag it.
Where everything is stored safely: records, documents, history. Backed up, and kept in Australia where that matters.
Plugs into what you already use, so nobody types the same thing twice: your CRM, accounting, calendar, payments, email and SMS.
What keeps it standing
Where it runs, how changes are tested before your team sees them, and how you know straight away if something breaks.
You own the code, the data and the accounts. Running costs sit on your own accounts, your team gets trained, and someone looks after updates.
See what it might look like
Pick a team to see the kind of AI teammates you could build. These are examples, not a product: every build is scoped to how your business actually works.
A team of AI helpers that research, write and keep your pipeline moving, so your reps spend their time on calls, not admin.
Human checks A person approves before it goes out
Want to know which of these would actually move the needle in your business? That’s what business scoping is for.
Chat with AdamExamples only. What’s worth building depends on your business, and the builder quotes after scoping.
Turns one idea into a week of content, captures the leads it creates, and tells you what’s actually working.
Human checks A person approves before it goes out
Want to know which of these would actually move the needle in your business? That’s what business scoping is for.
Chat with AdamExamples only. What’s worth building depends on your business, and the builder quotes after scoping.
Takes the repetitive back-office work off your plate and gives everyone instant answers from your own processes.
Human checks A person approves before it goes out
Want to know which of these would actually move the needle in your business? That’s what business scoping is for.
Chat with AdamExamples only. What’s worth building depends on your business, and the builder quotes after scoping.
Keeps customers happy and spots who’s about to leave, or ready to buy more, before you’d notice.
Human checks A person approves before it goes out
Want to know which of these would actually move the needle in your business? That’s what business scoping is for.
Chat with AdamExamples only. What’s worth building depends on your business, and the builder quotes after scoping.
Turns customer feedback into clear priorities and helps your developers ship faster.
Human checks A person approves before it goes out
Want to know which of these would actually move the needle in your business? That’s what business scoping is for.
Chat with AdamExamples only. What’s worth building depends on your business, and the builder quotes after scoping.
Gets invoices out, money in and the books tidy, so your accountant’s time goes on advice, not data entry.
Human checks A person approves before it goes out
Want to know which of these would actually move the needle in your business? That’s what business scoping is for.
Chat with AdamExamples only. What’s worth building depends on your business, and the builder quotes after scoping.
Speeds up the paperwork around deals and partners. A lawyer still signs off anything that matters.
Human checks A person approves before it goes out
Want to know which of these would actually move the needle in your business? That’s what business scoping is for.
Chat with AdamExamples only. What’s worth building depends on your business, and the builder quotes after scoping.
Takes the admin out of hiring and onboarding. People still make every hiring decision.
Human checks A person approves before it goes out
Want to know which of these would actually move the needle in your business? That’s what business scoping is for.
Chat with AdamExamples only. What’s worth building depends on your business, and the builder quotes after scoping.
Three kinds of build, often combined into one connected system. Each one replaces manual work your team does today.
Apps and portals
Web and mobile apps for your clients, members, staff or contractors, designed around how you work.
Automations and integrations
Information moves between systems on its own, instead of someone copying it between tabs.
AI agents
Agents that work across your tools on repeatable jobs, with a person approving anything sensitive.
Building in the age of AI
AI has made software faster and cheaper to build. It hasn’t made it easier to decide what to build. This is how I approach it.
The best opportunities usually sit between teams, not inside one tool.
Put a number on the manual work and the revenue slipping through.
Take the cheapest path that works. Only build what nothing else does.
AI makes a first version quick. A demo is not yet a product.
Start with AI drafting and a person checking, then loosen the leash.
Your code, data and accounts, a maintenance plan and a clear result.
Source: Retool, 2026 Build vs. Buy Report, a survey of 817 builders.
Custom isn’t always the answer. I’ll tell you when an existing tool will do the job, and I never recommend a build that a subscription could replace.
| Buy off the shelf | Connect your tools | Custom build | |
|---|---|---|---|
| When it fits | A proven tool already covers most of what you need | Your tools work, but someone copies data between them by hand | Your process is your advantage, or every tool forces workarounds |
| Examples | A CRM, a scheduler or an outbound tool from the tool directory | CRM synced with your other systems, automatic follow-ups, live dashboards | Client portals, purpose-built CRMs, AI agents |
| Cost | Monthly subscriptions | Set-up work plus your existing subscriptions | Quoted by the builder after their technical scoping |
Free · 3 minutes
The AI and custom builds check shows where your team is losing hours, and whether automating or building would pay off.
FAQ
Adam Agresta’s business scoping looks at sales, marketing and operations to work out if, where, what, how and why AI should help, at A$250 an hour, agreed upfront, ending in a plain-English brief. The builder’s scoping is technical: screens, data, connections and security, the effort and timeline, and a written quote for the build.
It depends on the team. In sales, AI can research accounts, write first drafts and update the CRM after calls. In marketing it can repurpose content and qualify leads. In operations, finance, legal, product, customer success and people it can triage requests, chase invoices, check contracts and answer policy questions, with a person approving anything that matters.
Every build is different, so there is no price list. Adam Agresta’s business scoping is billed at A$250 an hour, agreed upfront. The builder then does their own technical scoping from Adam’s brief and quotes the build. Cost depends on user types, integrations, payments, AI features, data migration and compliance needs.
A trusted AI or build contact that Adam Agresta introduces you to with a written brief. The builder scopes the technical detail, quotes, contracts with you directly and is responsible for delivery, and any referral fee is disclosed in writing first. Adam can stay on to keep the build tied to your sales and marketing goals.
Every custom build has eight parts: the front door (screens), the keys (logins and permissions), the brain (the AI layer), the engine room (logic and automations), the filing cabinet (your data), the pipes (connections to your tools), the foundations (hosting, security and reliability) and running and owning it after launch.
Buy when a proven tool covers most of what you need, connect your tools when data is copied between them by hand, and build when your process is your advantage or every tool forces workarounds. Adam Agresta’s business scoping tells you which applies before anyone quotes a build.
Start with a free 30-minute chat. I’ll listen first, then tell you honestly whether to buy, connect or build.
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