AI & App Development Articles

Honest, no-hype articles on AI chatbots, custom web apps, booking systems, and automation for small NZ businesses.

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Are You Actually Behind on AI? A 20-Minute Test

Nearly every week someone tells me they think they're falling behind on AI. Most of them aren't. Here's how to find out for certain, in about twenty minutes.

29 Jul 20265 min read

The AI Things I Tell Clients Not to Bother With

I turn down more AI work than I take on. Here's the list of things people ask me for that I talk them out of, and what I suggest instead.

27 Jul 20265 min read

What AI Actually Costs a Small Business (Real Numbers)

Almost nobody publishes real figures for this, which makes it very hard to budget. So here's what AI actually costs a small New Zealand business, including the parts people leave out.

24 Jul 20266 min read

My Competitor Is Using AI. Should I Panic?

A competitor putting 'AI-powered' on their website is a marketing decision, not a capability. Here's how to tell the difference — and what to do if it turns out to be real.

22 Jul 20265 min read

What I'd Do First If I Ran a Trades Business in 2026

If I put down the laptop and picked up the tools tomorrow, here's the order I'd do things in — and how far down the list AI actually appears.

19 Jul 20266 min read

How to Tell an AI Sales Pitch From an AI Solution

You don't need to understand the technology to evaluate the pitch. You need six questions, and the willingness to notice when they're not being answered.

16 Jul 20265 min read

AI-Powered Booking and Scheduling Tools for Service Businesses

Smarter booking tools are everywhere now, some claiming AI is doing the work. Here's what's genuinely useful for NZ service businesses and what's just a label.

20 Jun 20267 min read

Automating Repetitive Business Tasks with Simple Custom Tools

You don't need a huge system to save hours a week. Here are real, specific examples of small custom tools that quietly remove the boring parts of running a business.

25 May 20267 min read

AI Chatbots for Small Business Websites: Worth It in 2026?

AI chatbots can genuinely save a small business time, or they can annoy every visitor who touches them. Here's how to tell which one you're about to build.

20 Apr 20268 min read

Custom Web App vs Off-the-Shelf Software: How to Decide

Custom software sounds impressive, but most businesses don't need it. Here's a straightforward way to work out which side of the line you're actually on.

15 Mar 20267 min read

What "AI & App Development" Means for a Small Business

"AI & App Development" sounds like a big, vague service. Here's what it actually means in practice, and how to tell if your business needs it or just needs a better use of the tools you've already got.

10 Feb 20267 min read

How Small Business Owners Can Put AI to Work on Their Website

AI tools can speed up website content and research, but they work best as an assistant, not a replacement. Here's where they actually help and where they don't.

1 Feb 20236 min read

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