DIY vs. Managed
With DIY, your team sets up and runs the bot in Studio. With the Managed Service (MSP), the Authava team sets it up, tunes it, and handles advanced features like integrations with you. Small, informational bots often do fine with DIY; larger or connected bots usually go better with MSP.
Overview
Authava offers two ways to run a bot:
Do-it-yourself (DIY) – you set up and run it yourself
Managed Service (MSP) – the Authava team runs it with you
The difference comes down to two things:
- Who does the work
- What capabilities are available
Our bias is toward the Managed Service.
In our experience, most businesses are too busy running their company to become experts in configuring and maintaining AI systems. When someone else owns the system and operates it deliberately, the results are usually better.
That said, we also believe people should be able to start where they are.
| Topic | DIY | Managed Service (MSP) |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs the bot | Your team | Authava team operates it with you |
| Features | Smaller portion of the platform | Full platform, including advanced capabilities |
| Setup | You configure and launch the bot | Authava sets it up deliberately |
| Speed to launch | Depends on how fast you learn the system | Often faster because experienced operators handle setup |
| Responsibility for results | Your team owns setup and outcomes | Authava actively helps tune performance with you |
| Ongoing tuning | You monitor and adjust responses | Authava monitors and tunes the bot over time, per your plan |
| Cost of mistakes | Lower stakes — you manage the risk | Higher expectations — professionals help reduce mistakes |
| Your time required | Higher — you operate the system | Lower — Authava handles most of the work |
| Advanced capabilities | Limited to what can be safely self-operated | Additional capabilities enabled and maintained by Authava |
| If the bot gives a wrong answer | Your team investigates and fixes it | We investigate together and help correct the source |
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between DIY and Managed Service?
DIY means you run the bot.
Managed Service means Authava runs it with you.
DIY gives you the platform and control.
MSP includes experienced operators who set it up correctly, tune it over time, and handle the more complex capabilities.
Why would someone pay for MSP if DIY is cheaper?
The total cost of the DIY often is not cheaper than the MSP.
Two reasons.
First, time. Learning the system, configuring it, and maintaining it takes work.
Second, capability. Some features are higher risk or more complex to set up (API integrations, CRM actions, authentication). Those are typically handled through MSP.
What does MSP include (and not include)?
MSP includes:
- setting up the bot deliberately
- training it on your website and documents
- configuring integrations and advanced features
- monitoring and tuning the system over time
MSP does not include:
- rebuilding your website
- rewriting your business content
- custom development projects
- operating your internal systems
If the source information is wrong, the right fix is usually correcting the source rather than asking the bot to compensate.
Should I start with DIY or go straight to MSP?
It depends on how complex the bot will be.
If the bot is small and informational, DIY can work well.
If the bot will be large, customer-facing, connected to business systems, or part of your sales process, starting with MSP usually reduces mistakes and saves time.
When a bot is trained incorrectly early on, the MSP team may need to start a new bot anyway. Starting with MSP can avoid that rework.
What is expected of me if I choose the MSP plan?
MSP means Authava operates the bot system, but you are still the expert on your business.
Typically you will still:
- provide the source information (website, documents, policies)
- answer questions about how your business works
- review important changes when needed
- approve integrations with your systems
In other words, we operate the system, but the knowledge still comes from you. You remain responsible for the accuracy of the business information you provide and for reviewing answers on regulated or legal topics.
Most MSP customers still use the portal for simple updates like uploading a document or reviewing conversations.