At Afrolynx, we understand the pivotal role technology plays in driving business success. One of the most critical decisions organisations face is whether to build custom software or buy off-the-shelf solutions. This decision influences operational efficiency, scalability, and long-term profitability.
Our mission at Afrolynx is to guide our clients through this decision-making process, ensuring their choice aligns with their strategic goals, budgets, and operational priorities. Here is our structured approach to helping clients evaluate the “build vs. buy” dilemma.
Understanding the Build vs. Buy Decision
Choosing between building and buying often involves balancing customisation against efficiency. Building software enables businesses to create a solution tailored to their unique needs but requires significant time, expertise, and resources. Buying, on the other hand, offers faster deployment and lower upfront costs but may involve compromises in flexibility and long-term control.
At Afrolynx, we work closely with clients to evaluate their priorities and determine the best fit for their specific circumstances.
Key Factors We Consider for Clients
Our evaluation process centres on six key factors to ensure our clients make informed decisions:
1. Business Needs and Strategic Alignment
- Custom Build: Afrolynx recommends building when the client’s needs are highly specific, or when the software solution must serve as a competitive differentiator. Examples include proprietary data management platforms for niche industries.
- Buy: We advise buying when the client’s requirements align with established industry standards or when commercial software can fulfil the majority of needs. For instance, accounting systems or HR tools often fit this profile.
2. Time to Market
- Custom Build: Building software is a longer journey, ideal for clients with a strategic focus on long-term innovation and differentiation.
- Buy: For clients requiring immediate deployment—such as startups scaling quickly or businesses undergoing transformation—Afrolynx suggests buying ready-to-use solutions.
3. Budget and Resource Availability
- Custom Build: Developing custom software requires a significant initial investment and ongoing maintenance costs. Afrolynx ensures clients fully understand the resource implications of this approach.
- Buy: When budget constraints are a priority, Afrolynx recommends purchasing software that offers scalability and predictable costs through subscription models.
4. Scalability and Flexibility
- Custom Build: Afrolynx supports building when scalability and control over the software roadmap are critical to the client’s growth plans. This is common in sectors like logistics or fintech.
- Buy: For standardised needs, Afrolynx guides clients toward buying scalable SaaS platforms that can accommodate moderate growth without requiring custom development.
5. Competitive Advantage
- Custom Build: Clients in competitive markets often require bespoke solutions to maintain an edge. For example, Afrolynx has helped e-commerce clients build custom AI-driven recommendation engines that set them apart.
- Buy: For support functions such as payroll or basic CRM, Afrolynx advises leveraging commercial solutions to focus internal resources on core business activities.
6. Long-Term Maintenance
- Custom Build: Afrolynx highlights the need for ongoing maintenance, updates, and security management when clients opt for custom-built solutions.
- Buy: Clients seeking minimal technical overhead benefit from buying, as vendors typically handle updates and troubleshooting.
Afrolynx’s Client-Centred Approach
Afrolynx works hand-in-hand with clients to build a solid case for their chosen approach. This includes comprehensive evaluations, clear communication with stakeholders, and rigorous analysis of risks and benefits.
1. Conducting Needs Assessments
Afrolynx begins with an in-depth needs assessment to understand the client’s goals, operational challenges, and long-term vision. This ensures the recommended solution aligns with their strategic objectives.
2. Performing Cost-Benefit Analysis
We provide a transparent comparison of costs, including development, licensing, and maintenance. For example:
- Building a custom logistics solution for a transport company may cost more upfront but delivers unmatched efficiency.
- Buying a subscription-based ERP system could be more cost-effective for a small to medium enterprise.
3. Assessing Technical Capacity
Afrolynx evaluates the client’s internal technical capabilities, ensuring they can support a build decision or effectively utilise a purchased solution.
4. Mitigating Risks
Afrolynx identifies potential risks for both options—such as scope creep in custom builds or vendor lock-in for off-the-shelf solutions—and develops strategies to mitigate them.
5. Prototyping and Piloting
For clients facing a tough choice, Afrolynx recommends prototyping a basic custom solution or piloting a commercial product to test functionality and feasibility.
Hybrid Solutions: A Tailored Afrolynx Approach
Many Afrolynx clients benefit from hybrid solutions that blend the strengths of building and buying:
- Customising Off-the-Shelf Software: Afrolynx specialises in customising commercial solutions through APIs and integrations, delivering a semi-custom experience without the cost of building from scratch.
- Adopting Open-Source Platforms: Afrolynx helps clients leverage open-source solutions, which provide a cost-effective starting point for extensive customisation.
Real-World Success Stories
Afrolynx IT Solutions has a proven track record of helping clients navigate the build vs. buy decision and delivering tailored technology solutions that drive measurable outcomes:
Case Study 1: Repurposing Azure DevOps for an Electronics Repair Shop
An electronics repair shop approached Afrolynx seeking a tool to streamline its client ticketing process. They needed a system to manage device intake, track repairs, requisition new parts, and provide real-time feedback to clients at each step. Afrolynx recommended repurposing Azure DevOps to address these requirements. By customising work item templates, workflows, and notifications, Afrolynx configured Azure DevOps to handle ticket tracking efficiently. This solution delivered a cost-effective, scalable platform without requiring the shop to invest in building a bespoke application, enabling them to enhance operational efficiency and client satisfaction.
Case Study 2: Deploying Cleriko for Seamless Business Operations
A growing business required a system to manage its invoicing, client communication, and task tracking efficiently. Afrolynx recommended Cleriko, a versatile SaaS solution tailored for small and medium enterprises. By developing and implementing Cleriko, Afrolynx helped the client gain an integrated platform that streamlined their workflows, reduced manual processes, and enhanced client engagement. The off-the-shelf solution was customised to meet their specific needs, ensuring a quick deployment and delivering immediate value with minimal disruption to daily operations.
Case Study 3: Implementing ActivTrak to Manage Remote Staff
A mid-sized organisation with a growing remote workforce approached Afrolynx for a solution to monitor productivity and optimise resource allocation. The challenge was to gain visibility into employee activities without compromising privacy or trust. Afrolynx recommended ActivTrak, a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software solution designed for workforce analytics.
By implementing ActivTrak, Afrolynx enabled the organisation to track time spent on tasks, identify workflow bottlenecks, and generate actionable insights to improve productivity. The solution also offered features such as privacy-focused data collection and detailed reporting, ensuring alignment with the company’s transparency policies. This quick-to-deploy solution provided immediate operational benefits while fostering accountability and enhancing team performance.