When to Build vs Buy vs Integrate — The Decision Framework
A practical framework for deciding when to build custom software, buy a platform, or integrate existing systems.
"Should we build it or buy it?" is one of the most consequential decisions in enterprise software. Get it right and you save years of development time or gain a genuine competitive advantage. Get it wrong and you spend millions on a platform that doesn't fit, or years building something you could have bought for a fraction of the cost.
The answer is never obvious, and anyone who tells you "always build" or "always buy" is selling something. Let's build a framework for making this decision well.
The Three Options
Build
Write custom software tailored to your exact requirements. You own the code, control the roadmap, and can optimize for your specific needs.
Buy
Purchase a commercial platform (SaaS or on-premise) that solves your problem. Configure it to your needs, accept i
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