I once spent three months on a small task force with one job: prototype an investigative tool fast enough to answer a single question. Should we build it or buy it? The prototype mattered less than what it taught us about our own requirements.
Build vs. buy decisions go wrong when teams compare features instead of fit. A vendor platform can check every box in a demo and still struggle with your data, your workflows, or your audit trail.
The questions I ask
- How unique are our workflows, really?
- Where does the data live, and who owns it?
- What does it cost to run for five years, not one?
- What happens when the regulations change?
- How much can we learn from a quick prototype before we commit?