GRC platforms like Vanta and Drata solved the organization problem for compliance teams. But AI solves that same problem and does the actual compliance work too. The value proposition for platforms costing tens of thousands annually is eroding fast when AI can collect 99 of 123 evidence items in four sessions.
SOC 2 is not a certification. It is an AICPA attestation report issued by a licensed CPA firm expressing an opinion about your controls. Most vendor websites, sales decks, and even compliance platforms get this basic fact wrong, and the confusion costs companies real time and money.
SOC 2 compliance platforms charge thousands annually for what is essentially organisation software. We moved to a Git repository, Google Drive for auditor access, and AI for the tedious work. The only cheque we write now goes to our CPA firm for the actual audit.
Most AI strategies are elaborate 50-slide performances designed to impress investors and boards. Steve Blank calls this innovation theater. RAND reports more than 80% of AI projects fail because the boring operational work that creates actual value gets ignored.
Everyone builds chatbots while inventory sits overstocked and schedules waste labor. Backend retail AI operations, from SAP to Kroger, deliver measurable ROI that customer-facing features cannot match. Inventory forecasting cuts stockouts by 65%, scheduling saves 5-15% on labor, and loss prevention stops billions in shrinkage. The wins hide in operations, not conversations.
Automated valuations consistently disappoint. Even the Zillow Zestimate has error rates under 2% for off-market homes. With 75% of U.S. brokerages using AI tools yet only 5% achieving program goals, the real ROI is in operations like tenant screening, predictive maintenance, and lease processing.
Operations teams rejected ChatGPT but embraced Claude. The reason? Claude explains its thinking, admits when it is uncertain, and prioritizes accuracy over speed. IG Group reports saving 70 hours weekly using Claude for operations, from process documentation to compliance workflows.
Your Mac and Linux machines come with grep, find, and cat - tools from the 1970s. Modern alternatives like ripgrep and fd run 10-100x faster, output JSON for AI workflows, and install in 30 minutes.
Most companies hand developers Windows machines and wonder why work takes longer than it should. The problem is not the hardware. It is 37 missing tools that Unix and Mac provide out of the box.
RAND Corporation research shows more than 80 percent of AI projects fail. A focused 3-day audit measuring cognitive load and workflow fragmentation uncovers millions in hidden automation opportunities.