I built an AI tool nobody asked for and now I'm trying to figure out if anyone actually wants it
Two months ago I started building Reportify, an AI tool that writes client performance reports in 60 seconds
This week 2 real strangers used it Not tests Real people
But here's what's bugging me I don't actually know if generating a report is the same thing as solving a real problem for them
So I want to ask this community directly
If you've ever sent a report to a client, what's the part that actually takes the most time, the writing itself, or pulling the data together from different places
And the harder question, would you pay for something that only fixes the writing part, or does that feel incomplete without also fixing the data collection part
Not pitching anything here just trying to think clearly about what I'm actually building before I keep going
I like that you're questioning the job instead of the feature.
If someone spends an hour producing a report, it's worth asking whether they're really paying the cost of writing—or the cost of understanding what the data is saying. Those are very different problems, and solving one without the other may only remove a small part of the friction.
This is a really important distinction and honestly makes me reconsider what I'm actually solving
I think Reportify currently handles both to some degree, since the AI doesn't just format numbers, it interprets them into insights and recommendations. But you're right that the harder cost might be earlier in the process, actually knowing which numbers matter and what story they're telling before you even get to writing anything
Curious how you'd separate those two costs in practice, is the understanding part something that happens naturally once someone looks at the raw data, or is that genuinely a separate skill/time cost most people underestimate
That's a great question.
I don't think I'd answer it the same way for every product, which is why I'm reluctant to give you a generic view.
I have a perspective on how I'd separate those two costs in the context of Reportify specifically, and I think it'll be more useful than an abstract answer.
If you're interested, what's the best email to reach you on?
Really appreciate this, would love to hear your perspective
[email protected]
Thanks! I’ve just sent it over.
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts whenever you have a chance.