Build vs. Buy in Distribution Technology: Making the Right Call

 


For distributors navigating today’s fast-changing landscape, one decision often looms large: should you build custom technology, or buy an off-the-shelf solution?

It’s not just a technical choice — it’s a strategic one that can impact cost, agility, and long-term competitiveness. Let’s break it down.

The Allure (and Risk) of Building Your Own

Building a custom platform can be tempting. After all, it promises:

  • Complete control over features and workflows
  • A tailored fit for unique processes
  • A sense of ownership over the technology stack

But along with those benefits come some hard realities:

  • Costly overruns and delays are common as projects stretch beyond their initial scope
  • Maintenance never ends — custom code needs continuous updates, testing, and support
  • Talent dependency — when key developers move on, knowledge gaps can cripple future upgrades

For many distributors, the “custom” route ends up consuming more resources than it saves.

The New Reality of Buying Off-the-Shelf

Historically, pre-packaged platforms were seen as rigid and one-size-fits-all. That’s no longer the case. Modern enterprise solutions, like Infor CloudSuite Distribution, offer:

  • Faster time-to-value with preconfigured best practices built in
  • Lower total cost of ownership thanks to shared infrastructure and ongoing vendor support
  • Proven scalability to grow with your business instead of holding it back
  • Continuous innovation as vendors roll out regular updates and enhancements

What used to feel limiting is now a strategic advantage — freeing distributors from reinventing the wheel.

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