Outside the Box – Perspectives, News, & Notions

Outside the Box is our home to company happenings, thought leadership, and industry news. Whether it's a podcast on the latest in AI or the photos from the latest team outing, you'll find fresh new content and perhaps another view of Switchbox.

We Built a Nine-Agent RFP Engine. It Took Four Weeks and Cost $6 to run.

Our team responds to RFPs (Request for Proposal). Government contracts, enterprise software bids, consulting engagements. The process is time-consuming. Read the document, decide if we should even pursue it, research the issuing org, architect the response, pull language from prior proposals, write, review, repeat. A serious bid can consume 40–80+ hours before you even get to talk with a human on the other side. So we built a system to do most of it.

Beyond Slopware: Why “Cheap” Code Might Be Costing You a Fortune

There is a fundamental law in economics: when the price of a good falls and the friction to access it is removed, the use of that resource skyrockets. We’ve seen this throughout history with everything from salt to computing power. Today, we’re witnessing this phenomenon in real-time within the realm of software development.

The Artisan, The Architect, and the Director

February 12, 2026

As AI automates the friction of production, designers are evolving from technical artisans into strategic directors of the human experience.

The Invisible Heartbeat: Why Technology Won’t Save a Broken Process

January 16, 2026

Before you spend a dime on a new system, step back and take an objective assessment of the steps your team takes every day. Understanding your unique “heartbeat” is the only way to ensure your next tech investment actually drives measurable goals instead of just creating more noise.

The High Cost of Quick: Why Speed is a Liar

January 16, 2026

In technology, the fastest way to get moving is often the quickest way to get lost. We see leaders under immense pressure to “just get something in place,” but choosing a solution based on how fast you can start is usually just a down payment on future rework. Real efficiency isn’t about how fast you can write a check or a line of code; it’s about where you invest your time upfront to avoid paying the “speed tax” later.

Building Your 2026 Business Roadmap

December 16, 2025

What if we treated our business strategy the same way we treat a software product? Your business is, after all, a product. It has users (clients and employees), features (services and capabilities), and bugs (operational inefficiencies). By applying the discipline of software roadmapping to your business planning, you can build a strategy that is resilient, iterative, and focused on value.

Switchbox 2025 Year in Review

December 14, 2025

With ‘Year in Review’ posts popping up everywhere, we figured we’d take a look back at life at Switchbox in 2025. Instead of just listing features and launches, here is a snapshot of our year that has nothing to do with pixels, servers, or code. Enjoy our very own behind the scenes!

What’s the Best Gift for Under $100?

December 13, 2025

Struggling to find the perfect gift without breaking the bank? We’ve got you covered. To help inspire your holiday shopping, we asked the team: What’s the best thing you’ve given or received for under $100? Enjoy this list of recommendations and fun finds from the Switchbox team.

Switchbox’s Annual Chili Cook Off, 2025

November 13, 2025

The leaves are starting to fall. The days are getting shorter. The cold is creeping in. That can mean only one thing. It’s Chili Cook Off Season!

Authenticity Always Wins, Especially in the AiX Equation

November 7, 2025

“Authenticity always wins.” It’s a simple statement, but powerful, especially as AI tools become embedded in the way we work. At Switchbox, we’re leaning into AiX.

Hosting ProductTank Columbus

October 31, 2025

Switchbox recently hosted ProductTank Columbus’s October Meetup, a Halloween-themed event titled “Feature Graveyard Stories: Lessons from Features that Didn’t Make It.”