Have you ever struggled with this age-old I.T. question: whether to build a custom software application or to buy one off the shelf?  This blog series was motivated by my recent conversations with both current and prospective customers and it really hit me - we are all facing this issue more and more often as we increasingly rely on technology to enhance productivity, to connect our computer and web-based applications, and to work smarter overall.  

As we are driven 'to do more with less', our new productivity tools need to be effective, and we need to have done our due diligence investigating all the options, otherwise, we may end up duplicating our work effort down the road, having spent valuable time and resources on a solution that is simply not viable - and no one can afford that.

My aim with this blog series is to provide food for thought for anyone, in any position or industry, seeking a software solution to improve productivity.  I have referenced the articles and tools where I utilized them, should you desire to dig deeper than I have.  Please note, we neither endorse nor profit from any recommendations made.

These exercises will require some investment on your part, but doing some homework now could save you a bundle of time, money and effort (not to mention aspirin and antacids) in the long run. 

In this blog series I will cover exercises on the topics below, so check back tomorrow for the first 2 Exercises to get you started on whether 'To Build or Buy'. 

1. The importance of knowing your key end-users.
2. Having a clear picture of your end application in mind - why this is an absolute must!
3. Estimating whether 'To Build or Buy' a worksheet tool you can use. 
4. Failure rate of custom application development and things to consider before you leap.
5. Understanding your key business drivers in the decision making process.
6. Off the shelf applications and key points to ponder.
7. Decision time.
   

What are your experiences purchasing off the shelf solutions or having custom applications built for you?  We'd like to hear from you and any of your words of wisdom or about pitfalls you encountered.