When it comes to software purchases, one of the critical decisions you must make is Build vs. Buy. Most often, IT decision-makers struggle to quantify the value of building in-house software versus buying off-the-shelf solutions. Both approaches have their pros and cons. In this blog, we will discuss the topic in the context of SAP Mobile Asset Management solution.
While building your own mobile asset management solution might seem appealing due to several advantages:
- Building a custom app can meet your exact requirements.
- Complete control over the application’s access and data security
- Cost-effective if you have a massive no. of users.
But building an in-house Mobile EAM solution has its challenges. To build the app, you will have to start from scratch, and it will need more time & resources. Below are the key factors that you should consider to make informed decisions:
Implementation Time: A new mobile solution will take significant time to execute coding. Delays and rework are common interruptions to deal with while also keeping in mind the ROI. At the same time, the deployment of the standard app should be relatively faster.
Resources: A significant consideration is the need for more skilled developers. You need technical resources for multiple development languages for the client app, middleware, and SAP. Do you have enough IT resources to work on the project without impacting regular IT needs? Bringing all departments together to collaborate on the project could take extra time away from daily tasks. Another consideration is whether to look internally for skilled persons or hire new ones.
Maintenance & Support: Once the solution is deployed, you need maintenance support for application upgrades, patches, and bug fixes. With no vendor support team, it could mean converting your staff or hiring a team for the same.
Documentation & Training: When you build the in-house app, you will also have to write documentation guides and training material which is tedious & time taking. At the same time, standard solutions come with all of this for free.
Budget: The licensing cost of SaaS-based solutions is mostly cheaper than the internal development cost. Going for internal development only makes sense if you have a massive number of app users.
Risk: The project risk is very low when you buy a standard solution that is already used by several other companies similar to yours.
Which Approach is best for Your Business?
Buying a commercial off-the-shelf solution makes more sense, especially in the context of SAP Mobile Asset Management. Many factors support this decision. The key is finding the right software vendor with proven experience and resources in implementing SAP Mobile Plant Maintenance solutions. Vendors who can customize the solution as per your requirements and provide extended support will be a better fit.
Factors | Build | Buy |
Cost | Cost of building in-house or outsourcing developers | Licensing /subscription cost |
Time to Deploy | It takes months to develop | Ready to implement software |
Flexibility to change | Take more effort to make changes. | Easy editing |
Functionality | An in-house solution has fewer features and is less specific to the functions. | Featured packed and designed to meet specific functions |
User Experience | Less intuitive | More intuitive |
How can Unvired help?
Unvired is a Houston-based SAP Partner company that offers SAP-Certified Mobile EAM solutions for Operator Rounds, Work Orders, Notifications, Digital Forms/Work Permits, and inventory/warehouse management. We are very strong in the area of SAP Mobile Plant Maintenance and have implemented our solutions for several customers across industries, including Oil & Gas, Chemicals, Utilities, Manufacturing, and Mining, among others.
Unvired Mobile EAM App Highlights:
- SAP-certified integration with SAP ECC and S/4HANA.
- Cross-platform experience- runs on iOS, Android, and Windows devices.
- Device Integration with barcode scanners, QR code readers, and printers.
- Work offline and auto-sync data when connectivity is available.
- Cloud & On-premise deployment.
- Cost-effective & rapid deployment
Also Read: Building A Business Case For SAP Mobile Asset Management
Contact us today if you would like to see a live demo or need help in building a business case for digitizing asset management business processes.