The Retrieval Moat: Why Vector Databases Decide Which Agencies Keep AI Retainers

Clients now treat AI features as baseline, so the agency margin sits in retrieval quality rather than model access. Vector databases are where client context becomes a durable asset that survives model swaps, and where lock-in risk quietly accumulates. Agencies that treat the index as a governed deliverable, not a vendor default, convert one-off builds into recurring retainer work.