Navigating the Build vs. Buy Debate

The age-old debate of build vs. buy is evolving rapidly, especially with advancements in low-code platforms and artificial intelligence (AI). For organizations seeking to modernize their IT landscape, the decision isn’t straightforward—it’s about aligning technology choices with business goals, existing investments, and cultural realities.

Here’s a simplified framework to guide your decision-making:

1. Strategic Alignment

Understand how the solution fits your long-term vision. If differentiation is key, building might make sense. For rapid deployment, buying or using a low-code platform may be a better fit.

2. Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

Evaluate the full cost, including development, maintenance, and scaling. Building has higher upfront costs, while buying can mean ongoing licensing fees.

3. Time-to-Market

Speed matters. Buying or leveraging low-code platforms accelerates deployment compared to building custom solutions from scratch.

4. Internal Expertise and Resources

Do you have the talent to manage custom builds? If not, AI-infused low-code platforms empower existing teams to create solutions efficiently without heavy coding expertise.

5. Integration and Scalability

Your solution must work with existing systems and scale with growth. Platforms like HCL Volt MX seamlessly modernize and extend legacy systems while preparing for the future.

6. User Experience, Customization, and Culture

Organizations must ask:

• Are we comfortable aligning with the way a SaaS product offers its services?
• Or do we foresee challenges in changing company culture and driving adoption?

For companies that feel cultural shifts or adoption may be difficult, leveraging low-code platforms infused with AI, like HCL Volt MX, provides a more adaptable solution. These platforms allow businesses to tailor solutions to their unique workflows and organizational needs, enabling smoother transitions and higher acceptance.

7. Addressing Enterprise COTS and SaaS Concerns

For organizations already invested in enterprise COTS or SaaS products but now grappling with growing costs and inflexibility, HCL Volt MX offers a strategic solution. It empowers businesses to overcome these challenges by:

• Integrating seamlessly with existing systems to maximize prior investments.
• Providing flexible, scalable solutions tailored to business needs.
• Enabling organizations to deliver total experiences across customer, employee, and partner touchpoints.

HCL Volt MX has been embraced by enterprises worldwide to deliver modern, unified digital ecosystems that prioritize innovation and efficiency.

8. Future-Proofing with Emerging Technologies

Adopting AI-driven solutions ensures your technology evolves with industry trends.

The Smart Approach: A Hybrid Model

Often, the best solution lies in combining both approaches:

• Build custom components for differentiation.
• Leverage low-code platforms for rapid deployment of non-core functionalities.

This hybrid approach provides flexibility, scalability, and innovation—balancing speed with strategic customization.

The Bottom Line

The future of businesses isn’t just about choosing between build vs. buy—it’s about building intelligently. Organizations comfortable adopting off-the-shelf workflows can benefit from SaaS products. Those seeking tailored solutions to match their culture or minimize disruption should explore low-code platforms infused with AI, like HCL Volt MX. And for companies invested in COTS or SaaS but hindered by rising costs and inflexibility, HCL Volt MX provides a path to innovation and agility while delivering total experiences.

Are you ready to embrace this new era of IT transformation?