SwingVision, an AI-powered racket sports app, initially chose to build its internal data infrastructure using open-source tools due to limited funding and resources. However, as the company grew, maintaining these in-house tools became cumbersome and costly, limiting their ability to scale and analyze data effectively. The challenges included a maintenance burden, limited data visibility, inability to scale data analysis, and failed internal development projects. Recognizing these issues, SwingVision decided to switch to a scalable data platform like Encord, which allowed them to visualize datasets, identify edge cases, and improve model accuracy efficiently. This transition provided them with actionable insights that enhanced their AI models and overall performance. The experience serves as a lesson for CTOs and engineering leaders about the hidden costs of internal tools and the strategic importance of investing in scalable, external platforms to maintain competitive advantage and focus on core innovations.