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When custom software beats off-the-shelf
Route Tech Solutions · 22 March 2026 · 6 min read
Buying is usually right. Here is how to recognise the point where building wins.
The workaround test
Count the workarounds your team maintains around a tool. When the workarounds become the process, the tool no longer fits.
The differentiation test
If a workflow is genuinely how you compete, owning it is an asset. If it is generic, buy it.
Start narrow
A focused first release that solves one expensive problem beats a platform designed in a vacuum.