Software Under Service: Why the SaaS Model for Research Tech is Evolving in the AI Era
By BoltChat AI
- article
- AI
- Artificial Intelligence
- Qualitative Research
- AI Moderation
- AI Interviews
- Automated Reporting
Summarise with AI
I have a prediction that I believe will fundamentally change our industry, and, frankly, most of the software industry. I call it “Software Under Service” – not Software as a Service.
Here’s why: AI can now code pretty well. This means you will have bespoke, tailor-made, in-house solutions that can create any software solution you need.
This article covers part of the The Founders & Leaders Series podcast episode 5. Listen to the full episode here:
Episode 5: Hakan Yurdakul, Co-Founder & CEO, Bolt Insight
The Real Differentiator
If you are ‘just’ a tech solution, think again. With AI, practically anyone will be able to create a solution that is nearly identical to yours, if not better, in just a couple of weeks or days. What used to take years to develop and code now takes mere hours. The transformation that’s happening in the tech space is just unbelievable.
At Bolt Insight, we recognised this shift early. Our tech is capable, and you can use it for DIY projects as well. However, whenever you need help, our team is there. Expert qualitative researchers who are there to answer your questions, to brainstorm, and ideate about the right methodology, the right questions.
The real differentiation won’t be single, linear solutions. You may collect and connect many different parts and solutions, but the service layers on top of that will create the real value: the people.
This is why all our client-facing people either come from insights, marketing, agency, or consulting backgrounds. They all have been involved in research and insights, and that makes a huge difference. When our investors or client partners look at us, they know we are not “just a tech solution”, we’re something much more valuable.
Human Expertise Wrapped in Technology
The service layer becomes critical because AI, and especially LLMs, tend to focus more on correlation rather than causality. That’s a crucial point in this context. If you’re relying solely on technology and LLMs, you’re likely only capturing the correlation, but are you truly identifying the root cause of things? That’s the real difference.
There was a particularly amusing article recently about this correlation and causality concept. They discovered that in countries where chocolate consumption is higher, individuals tend to be more successful in terms of education and exam results. You might say, “Okay, I should eat more chocolate to become more successful”. But that’s not the case – one needs to understand the cause of things rather than just simple correlations.
The Future Model
At Bolt Insight, we always believed in a human-plus-AI approach. We have invested lots of time and effort into training our technology. We’re not just a ChatGPT or Gemini wrapper. Above all, we believe in the importance of human expertise.
Whenever you need more bespoke storytelling and reporting on top of the AI report, we have a team for you in the same time zone. That’s what we aim to replicate – not just software, but software combined with human expertise that understands your business, challenges, and objectives.
The companies that will survive and thrive in the AI era won’t be those with the best code – they’ll be those with the best combination of powerful technology and irreplaceable human insight.
This article covers part of the The Founders & Leaders Series podcast episode 5. Listen to the full episode here:
