Investment consultants are no strangers to complex decisions. But few are as deceptively simple—or as strategically critical—as whether to build internal software tools or buy a purpose-built platform.
What starts as a technology decision quickly becomes a business one. One that can shape how quickly you deliver insights, how well you scale, and whether your infrastructure propels or impedes your growth.
So, what are smart firms asking before they commit?
We explore four key questions in our white paper, but here’s a preview of what every consulting leader should be thinking about:
1. Will building help you create a competitive edge, or will it be a costly distraction?
Spoiler: Custom software isn’t always the differentiator it promises to be. Your time and talent are finite. The real edge may come from focusing those resources on what only you can do.
2. How fast do you really need to move and can you afford the detour?
Internal builds rarely stay on schedule. When speed-to-market matters, the long road might cost more than you expect.
3. Do you have the expertise to maintain it or just to get it off the ground?
Initial builds are just the beginning. Ongoing maintenance, feature evolution, and security updates are often underestimated until they’re unavoidable.
4. Are you ready to own the risk that comes with building, especially around security?
In a highly regulated, data-sensitive industry, compliance and security aren’t optional. They’re constant. Buying a platform that’s built with this in mind might be the safer, smarter bet.
Beyond the bells and whistles
Many firms resist buying because they assume they’ll only use 20% of what’s offered, but that view misses the point. Today’s “extra” features often become tomorrow’s essentials.
Build too narrowly, and you’ll find yourself re-creating what others have already mastered—slowly, painfully, and at a much higher cost.
Explore how leading consulting firms are weighing these trade-offs and why many are rethinking the build vs. buy decision.
Coming soon
Next in our series, we’ll explore the second pillar of our connected consultant framework: Operational agility. How are smart firms using technology to streamline work, improve visibility, and adapt faster?
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