Build or buy? Start with the difference.
How to decide where custom software can earn its investment.
Separate common needs from distinctive work.
Standard software is often a sensible answer for standard workflows. Custom software is worth considering when the way your business operates is materially different, or when gaps between existing tools create repeated friction.
Count the whole cost.
Compare licensing, implementation, integration, training, maintenance, and the work still done manually. A custom build also needs ongoing ownership. Neither path is maintenance-free.
Test the hardest assumption.
A focused prototype can reveal whether an integration is practical or whether users understand a proposed workflow. Investigate that uncertainty before committing to a large scope.
Keep the first release focused.
Solve the essential workflow, establish a maintainable foundation, and learn from use. Buying a core system and building the missing layer around it can be the right combination.