--- title: "Blog — Practical Software, AI & Cloud Advice · Mercury STK" canonical_url: "https://mercurystk.com/blog" last_updated: "2026-06-29T04:31:09.820Z" meta: description: "Buyer-intent articles on custom CRMs, RAG chatbots, AI automation, and cloud for U.S. small and mid-sized businesses. Practical, no hype." "og:description": "Buyer-intent articles on custom CRMs, RAG chatbots, AI automation, and cloud for U.S. small and mid-sized businesses. Practical, no hype." "og:title": "Blog — Practical Software, AI & Cloud Advice · Mercury STK" --- Insights # Blog Practical, buyer-focused articles on AI, CRMs, ecommerce, and cloud — written from real engineering experience, not generic AI filler. [CloudAWS

AWS vs Azure vs Google Cloud for Small Business Applications

A practical comparison of AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud for small and mid-sized business apps in 2026 — cost, strengths, and how to choose without overthinking it.Jun 10, 2026· 8 min read](https://mercurystk.com/blog/aws-vs-azure-vs-google-cloud-small-business) [AIRAG

When Should a Business Use a RAG Chatbot Instead of a Regular Chatbot?

RAG chatbots answer from your documents with citations; scripted bots follow fixed flows. Here's how to choose the right one for your business in 2026.May 28, 2026· 6 min read](https://mercurystk.com/blog/rag-chatbot-vs-regular-chatbot) [CRMPricing

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Custom CRM for a Small Business?

A practical, honest breakdown of what a custom CRM costs for a small business in 2026 — the factors that drive price, and how to keep the first version affordable.May 12, 2026· 7 min read](https://mercurystk.com/blog/how-much-does-a-custom-crm-cost) Ready when you are ## Let’s scope your project in 30 minutes Book a free consultation. We’ll review your workflows, identify automation and software opportunities, and give you a clear, honest recommendation — no obligation. [Book a Free Consultation](https://mercurystk.com/contact) [View Services](https://mercurystk.com/services)