A few months ago I worked with a client who wanted me to help them implement an online lead aggregation and distribution solution. They knew what they needed in a general sense, but weren’t entirely sure where to start. Should they build one from scratch? Should they try to find a packaged solution that will work out of the box? Should they customize an out-of-the-box package?
Build or buy: This is a common problem faced by organizations across the globe. Unfortunately, the answer is seldom cut and dry. The first thing that MUST be done is to document the business requirements. A good business requirements document will explain what the software is expected to do, who will use it, and how it fits into your business processes. Also, don’t forget to confront those sticky issues such as integration, hardware requirements, management tools, reports, backup, security, and ongoing support.
Once you know exactly what you need, the build or buy decision becomes a little easier. If you can find a product that meets your requirements exactly, you’ve hit the jackpot! Check the vendor for stability, review the product thoroughly, make sure the price is right, and then pull the trigger.
My next post will continue this article.
Jesse Melnick
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment