You wouldn't ask your strata manager to rewire the building

On my mind this week has been a question every enterprise wrestles with sooner or later: do we buy, build or partner when it comes to technology.

Why the question comes up

It usually starts with frustration. The tools are clunky, the vendor is slow, and every request for something new disappears into a roadmap you never see. The question inevitably comes up: should we build our own? After all, we have industry leaders working here, a big footprint, and it would be a way to stand out.

Why building in-house rarely works

But in many ways, building software is no different to building a tangible asset. And you wouldn't ask your best strata manager to rewire the building, not because they aren't capable, but because it is a different craft with different risks. Software is the same, but the questions are: can we feasibly build it? Will the team use it? Can we monetise it? Will it work within our business systems and constraints?

In another life I watched a major, globally recognised company mobilise cross-border teams of experts and get absolutely nowhere on these questions. Often at huge financial cost and even greater opportunity cost.

What partnership looks like

A much smarter option is partnership. Not with the vendor of 30 years who has taken your licence fees that whole time and delivered very little in return, but with a partner who understands your world and takes on the development risk for you.

This is what Antlar brings to the table for our design partners. We take on the commercially difficult software build risks and we deliver something that does not exist in the market today. Our partners shape the outcome without outlaying the capital or the effort. And here is the best part. If we fail, no harm done. Nothing has been spent.