AI Isn’t the Strategy. It’s the Accelerator

We’ve all heard it: “We need an AI strategy.” And sure, if you’re in the business of building AI itself, that might be the right call. But for most organizations—especially in software development—AI shouldn’t be the strategy. It should be the accelerator that powers the strategies you already have.

The Misstep: Treating AI Like a Standalone Initiative

Too many companies are setting up AI task forces, launching moonshot projects, or buying tools without a clear connection to real business needs. That’s like buying a Ferrari before you’ve figured out where you’re going.

AI is powerful, no doubt. But it’s not a magic wand, and it won’t fix disjointed processes or poor communication. If your workflows are inefficient or your teams aren’t aligned, adding AI will only make the chaos happen faster.

The Shift: Start with the Problem, Not the Tech

At Intertech, we’ve learned to lead with the why before jumping into the how. When clients come to us for AI support, our first question is always:
“What are you trying to achieve?”

Maybe it’s faster code delivery. Maybe it’s better user experiences. Maybe it’s reducing rework or eliminating manual handoffs. Once we understand the goal, then—and only then—do we talk about how AI can help.

UnifiAI: Helping Teams Work Smarter, Not Harder

That’s the thinking behind our UnifiAI offering. It’s not a single tool or tech stack—it’s a framework we’ve built to infuse AI into every phase of application development, including:

  • AI-assisted proposal writing that cuts time and increases accuracy
  • Smart requirements gathering that surfaces gaps before code is written
  • Automated code generation and testing to increase velocity
  • Deployment insights powered by predictive analytics

And importantly, UnifiAI is built to fit within your existing development process—not replace it.

AI as a Force Multiplier

Done right, AI boosts the performance of your best people. It doesn’t replace them.

  • Junior devs get up to speed faster.
  • Senior devs spend less time on boilerplate.
  • PMs get clearer status updates.
  • QA teams test smarter, not harder.

It’s about helping your team deliver value faster—and that’s what clients and end users really care about.

Final Thought

Don’t get distracted by the hype. If you’re not clear on your business goals, AI will just move you in the wrong direction faster. But when used strategically, it’s the nitrous boost your existing engine needs.

AI isn’t the strategy. It’s the accelerator. Make sure you’re pointing it at the right destination.

standardOctober 21Tom SalonekAI

Tech Debt Isn’t a Bill — It’s a Ballooning Mortgage

When you’re running a business, not every decision gets made with a long-term view. That’s reality. But in software development, those shortcuts—like skipping tests, delaying updates, or choosing speed over structure—don’t just fade into the background. They accrue interest. And that interest? It compounds fast.

Welcome to the world of technical debt.

What Is Tech Debt, Really?

Tech debt is the cost of rework caused by choosing an easier or faster solution now instead of a better one. It’s like paying only the minimum on a credit card—sure, you move forward, but eventually, the cost balloons and takes over your budget.

Unlike a literal bill, tech debt isn’t due on the 15th of the month. But it will come due. And when it does, it looks like:

  • Projects that take twice as long as they should
  • New features breaking old ones
  • Developers afraid to touch parts of the codebase
  • Frustrated clients, burned-out teams

Why Most Leaders Miss It

Tech debt doesn’t show up on a balance sheet, but it eats into productivity, morale, and margin. It’s not just a dev problem—it’s a business problem.

Leaders often miss it because the app still works… until it doesn’t. Or worse, until you need to scale, hire new developers, or pivot quickly. Suddenly, that “quick fix” from two years ago is a thousand-line bottleneck.

The Mortgage Metaphor

Think of tech debt like a mortgage you took out on your future agility. The more you defer principal (cleanup, refactoring, documentation), the more interest you’ll pay in every future sprint.

Just like a real mortgage, you need a plan to pay it down:

5 Ways to Tackle Tech Debt

  1. Make It Visible
    Track it in your backlog. Call it out in retros. If you can’t see it, you won’t manage it.
  2. Budget Time for Cleanup
    Allocate part of each sprint to refactoring and technical improvements—don’t wait for a fire.
  3. Use AI to Speed Up the Cleanup
    Our team at Intertech uses AI tools during audits to highlight redundant logic, dead code, and testing gaps quickly—think of it as your automated inspector.
  4. Prioritize High-Impact Areas
    Not all debt is equal. Focus on the parts of your system most affected by change, growth, or churn.
  5. Don’t Blame—Refactor
    Teams don’t accrue debt because they’re careless. They do it because they’re human. Fix it forward.

Why This Matters to Clients

Clients don’t want apps—they want outcomes. Tech debt stands in the way of performance, flexibility, and innovation. At Intertech, we build software that lasts because we plan for maintainability from day one. No balloon payments. No surprises.

Final Thought

If you’re a business leader or product owner, ask yourself:

Are we moving fast… or are we borrowing from the future?

Let’s talk if you’re unsure. A quick audit today could save you months down the road.

standardOctober 14Tom SalonekSoftware Development

The Right Fit Matters: Why We Turn Down Projects (and Why That’s a Good Thing)

In a world where every lead can feel like gold, turning down business may sound counterintuitive. But at Intertech, we’ve found that saying “no” is often the most strategic, respectful, and client-centric move we can make. Here’s why—and how that benefits everyone involved.

Not Every Project Is the Right Project

We don’t chase every opportunity that lands in our inbox. If the scope is vague, the expectations are misaligned, or the client’s vision lacks clarity, we pause. Why? Because experience has taught us that unclear beginnings lead to chaotic middles and disappointing ends. We’re not in the business of simply billing hours—we’re in the business of creating successful outcomes.

When We Say No (And Why It’s a Positive)

We might walk away when:

  • The project timeline is unrealistically aggressive.
  • The budget doesn’t support the business goals.
  • The organization isn’t ready to make necessary changes.
  • There’s a culture clash that would undermine collaboration.
  • The client wants a transactional vendor, not a long-term partner.

Saying no to the wrong fit opens space to say yes to the right ones. And it ensures that the clients who do work with us get our full attention, best thinking, and a clear path to success.

What We Say Yes To

We lean in when a client:

  • Is committed to a business outcome, not just writing code.
  • Values transparency, two-way communication, and mutual respect.
  • Wants to co-create something that has lasting impact.
  • Is open to leveraging AI, agile principles, and modern architectures like with our UnifiAI offering.

With UnifiAI, we don’t just deliver code—we bring a structured, AI-powered approach that enhances every stage of the development lifecycle. From planning and prototyping to delivery and support, UnifiAI ensures we focus on what matters most: solving the real business problem efficiently and effectively.

It’s Not Just About Us. It’s About You.

When we turn down a project, it’s not personal—it’s principled. It means we’re doing what’s right for your business, your team, and your future. And if we can’t help, we often refer you to someone who can.

At the end of the day, we don’t measure our success by the number of contracts signed—we measure it by the impact we deliver. That starts by working with the right people on the right problems. Everything else flows from there.

standardSeptember 30Tom SalonekIT

The High Cost of Low Trust: Why Tech Projects Fail Before They Start

Before a single line of code is written, long before a status report shows red or yellow, most software projects are already headed toward trouble—for one reason: a lack of trust.

At Intertech, we’ve worked on hundreds of enterprise-level projects. And if there’s one silent killer we see over and over again, it’s not a missed deadline or an unexpected bug—it’s eroding trust between client and consultant. When that happens, communication stalls, assumptions multiply, and progress slows to a crawl.

Here’s how low trust sabotages great intentions—and how to build a foundation that sets your next tech project up for success.

1. Communication Breaks Down

Low-trust environments lead to siloed teams and guarded conversations. Stakeholders hold back concerns. Developers second-guess priorities. People play defense instead of solving problems together.

The Fix:
Start with transparency. Daily huddles, shared project dashboards, and consistent feedback loops make trust visible. At Intertech, we’ve found that even a five-minute huddle can create alignment that lasts all day.

2. Clients Micromanage (Because They Feel They Have To)

When clients don’t trust that the team understands their goals—or that their concerns will be heard—they often step into the weeds. What was supposed to be a high-level leadership role becomes day-to-day project babysitting.

The Fix:
Shift the relationship from “vendor” to “partner.” At Intertech, we do this by clearly defining goals, showing progress regularly, and delivering early wins. We’re not just logging hours—we’re making a business impact.

3. Teams Build for Themselves, Not the User

Without trust, developers play it safe. They over-engineer. They follow the spec to the letter, even if it no longer makes sense. Why? Because they’re not confident they’ll be backed up when they speak up.

The Fix:
Empower teams to challenge assumptions. We embed user empathy and collaboration into our process so developers feel confident suggesting better solutions—even if they deviate from the original plan.

4. The Blame Game Starts Early

When trust is low, mistakes turn into finger-pointing. Teams become defensive. Clients become skeptical. Innovation dies in a flurry of status meetings.

The Fix:
Create psychological safety. Projects thrive when people feel safe admitting uncertainty or raising concerns early. At Intertech, we use retrospectives and open-door conversations to catch issues when they’re small.

5. You Miss the Real Problem

The most damaging consequence of low trust? You focus on symptoms, not causes. You build features instead of solving business problems. Everyone works hard—and nothing changes.

The Fix:
Ask better questions. Our UnifiAI offering was built to uncover what really matters. It combines deep technical expertise with AI-driven discovery and outcome-first planning—so projects stay focused on what moves the needle.

Final Word

Trust isn’t just soft stuff. It’s a business asset. And when it’s missing, the costs show up in missed deadlines, blown budgets, and strained relationships.

Start building trust on day one—and you’ll be halfway to success before the kickoff call ends.

standardSeptember 23Tom SalonekIT

5 Signals That Your Software Project Is About to Go Sideways

Most failing software projects don’t collapse overnight. The warning signs are subtle at first—missed deadlines, vague answers, shifting priorities. But if you know what to look for, you can catch the cracks before they become chasms.

At Intertech, we’ve rescued enough troubled projects to know the patterns. Here are five signs your software project might be drifting off course—and how to steer it back on track.

1. Vague Requirements That “Will Be Finalized Later”

If your team is already coding while business requirements are still fuzzy, you’re gambling with time and money. Ambiguity upfront turns into expensive rework later.

Fix:
Push for clarity early. Use collaborative discovery sessions, detailed user stories, and prototypes to validate direction before writing production code.

2. Stakeholders Are “Too Busy” to Engage

If decision-makers aren’t showing up to key meetings or giving timely feedback, expect delays and mismatched expectations.

Fix:
Build stakeholder check-ins into the schedule. Use short, focused reviews to keep engagement high and decisions moving.

3. You’re Measuring Hours, Not Outcomes

When conversations revolve around “how many hours were billed” instead of “what was delivered,” the focus has already shifted away from value.

Fix:
Shift the conversation. Define milestones in terms of business outcomes or working software—not just time logs. (This is why Intertech’s UnifiAI focuses on real business impact through outcome-based delivery and AI-enhanced development.)

4. No One Can Explain What Done Looks Like

If developers, testers, and business leaders each have a different definition of “done,” brace for friction at release time.

Fix:
Use a shared Definition of Done. Spell out what’s required for a feature to be complete—from code to QA to stakeholder approval.

5. Surprises Keep Popping Up

Whether it’s unexpected dependencies, missed data fields, or newly discovered constraints—constant surprises usually mean poor planning.

Fix:
Invest time in project risk planning. Ask, “What could go wrong?” early and often. Good teams surface issues before they surface themselves.

Final Thought

No project is perfect. But recognizing these early signals—and acting on them—can mean the difference between a smooth launch and a budget-burning scramble.

If your project feels off and you can’t quite pinpoint why, we’re happy to take a second look. It’s what we do.

standardSeptember 16Tom SalonekIT