A practical decision guide
Custom software or a standard tool?
The right answer depends on the bottleneck, not on whether custom software sounds more impressive. Use this guide to decide where a focused build is justified.
Time to first useful result
Standard tools can be faster when the workflow already fits. Custom work is useful when configuration has become the bottleneck.
Flexibility
Standard tools trade flexibility for repeatability. Custom software can reflect the exceptions your operation actually has.
Ownership
A standard tool gives you a vendor roadmap. A custom system gives you more control, but also more responsibility for maintenance.
Integrations
If your systems are well supported, configure first. If data still moves through spreadsheets and inboxes, an integration may be the better first step.