Should you build custom manufacturing software or buy off-the-shelf? Complete guide with pros, cons, and decision framework. We've built software for our own operations.
One-time development cost, then ongoing maintenance. No licensing fees.
Ongoing licensing costs every year. May need to upgrade or switch platforms.
Sometimes the best approach is a hybrid: buy off-the-shelf for standard features, build custom for unique requirements.
For example: Use an off-the-shelf ERP for core manufacturing functions, but build custom e-commerce with engineering calculators and complex variant logic. Or use Shopify for basic e-commerce, but build custom integrations for ERP and material procurement.
We've helped clients with hybrid approaches. We can integrate off-the-shelf systems with custom extensions to get the best of both worlds.
We've built custom software for our own operations:
We've also helped clients choose between build and buy. We understand both approaches and can help you make the right decision for your operations.
Learn more about custom software development