Build vs. Buy: Modernize Your Operational Technology [Flowchart]
"We need better demand forecasting."
"We don't know where to start when it comes to sustainability."
"I'm so sick of operating off AS/400."
"We have no real-time insights."
"We are still working out of spreadsheets and doing manual handoffs."
It's not just you. These pain points are echoing across the supply chain and a multitude of global industries. Your existing software tools are outdated, outgrown, or can’t connect to the rest of your digital solutions, and it's up to you to drive change or sell the idea up within your organization.
You know your challenges, and your next step is understanding your options: whether you should build a new solution in-house, seek out an off-the-shelf or SaaS tool that will provide what you need, or something in between: a hybrid model that leverages the best of both worlds and seamlessly connects your in-house tools with off-the-shelf software.
At the risk of oversimplifying what’s in reality a very complex and nuanced decision, this decision-making flowchart can get you started.
We know it can be difficult to know where to begin, but it’s necessary to find the right approach for your particular company, team structure, and data needs, and implement it well. In a year fraught with challenges across industries, the companies that can innovate better than their peers will be the ones to shine and drive impact at every level of their business — but you know this already.
If you’re ready to dive deeper, take a look at our comprehensive guide on understanding the build vs. buy spectrum, and come away with more information on:
- Signs your current solution no longer meets the needs of the business
- How to find your place on the spectrum of build-to-buy
- When to consider a hybrid approach, combining the best of both worlds
