At the time of thedigital transformation, equip his organisationwith the good onestoolsis one of the most critical and structuring decisions for the future. A fundamental question then quickly arises: should we mobilize our own resources to create a customized tool?sure (Build) or rely on the expertise of an existing service via a subscription (Buy) like Edusign ? What about?lemma, known as“Build vs. Buy”, has no single answer.
The choice depends on your strategy, resources, specific needs, and business culture. This article aims to provide a balanced and objective analysis of both approaches, unpacking the pros, cons, and hidden costs of each option to help you make the most informed decision for your business.choice of training software.
The “Build” Option: The Promises and Perils of Custom In-House Development
The idea of develop internally own tool is often attractive at first glance, carried by the promise of a perfectly adapted solution. The main advantage of this approach is undoubtedly the full customizationT he tool is designed to fit 100% with your existing processes, however unique they may be, without having to adapt to an imposed framework. You also benefit from a l on the technology, its evolution roadmap and the management of the data it hosts. The developed tool then becomes an asset which is your intellectual property.
However, this path is fraught with pitfalls and hidden costs that are often underestimated.initial cost and time frames development costs are frequently much higher than expected, tying up developers, project managers, and testers for extended periods. More importantly, software is never “finished.” The workload maintenance and updates is an ongoing expense and full-time job to fix bugs, apply security patches, and ensure compatibility with new technologies. Finally, this approach risks diverting attention and resources from yourcore business: Are you an educational expert or a software publisher?
The “Buy” option: the agility and expertise of specialized SaaS solutions
The alternative is to subscribe to specialized SaaS solutions(Software as a Service). This approach has considerable advantages in terms of agility and efficiency. The first is therapid deployment: a SaaS solution is ready to use and can be operational in a few days or weeks, not several months or years. The subscription model also allows for a great cost predictability and avoids a heavy initial investment.
By choosing this option, you immediately access a advanced expertise. You benefit from the experience of a publisher who dedicates 100% of its resources to solving a specific problem, such as Edusign for theadministrative management of training, the electronic signature and the remote sign-in. Updates, security, and ongoing innovation are included in the subscription and managed by experts. However, be aware that customization isis more limited than with tailor-made solutions and it is crucial to choose solutions offeringAPIrobust to guarantee theirgood integration intoyour existing ecosystem of tools.
The Comparison Chart: Build vs. Buy for Organizations
| Criteria | Develop Internally (Build) | Choosing a SaaS Solution (Buy) |
| Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) | Very high (Development + Ongoing Maintenance) | Predictable (Monthly/Annual Subscription) |
| Commissioning Deadline | Long (several months to several years) | Fast (a few days to a few weeks) |
| Personalization | Total, tailor-made | Limited to the options offered by the publisher |
| Maintenance & Evolution | At your total expense | Managed by the publisher and included |
| Required Expertise | Development teams, security teams, etc. | Publisher’s business expertise |
| Strategic Focus | Managing a technological project | Focus on thecore business (formation) |
How to make the right choice? The 4-question decision grid
To guide you, here are four strategic questions to ask yourself before making a decision.
1. Is your need truly unique in the world?If 80% of your processes are standard and covered by an existing SaaS solution, does customizing the remaining 20% justify reinventing the wheel for the majority of your needs?
2. Do you have the resources (financial, human, technical) over the long term?It’s not just about funding the initial development, but about having the capacity to ensure the maintenance, security and evolution of the tool for at least the next five years.
3. Is technology your core business?Are you an organization thatuses technology to improve performance, or a technology company that provides training? The answer to this question strongly guides the decision towards your true added value.
4. How important is speed of deployment for your project?Do you need a working solution within the next few months, or does your strategy allow you to wait a year or more for the development of an internal tool?
The essential features of specialized SaaS solutions
Beyond saving time and predicting costs, SaaS solutions likeEdusignare distinguished byready-to-use featureswhich provide immediate value:
- Instant deployment: no need for endless testing phases, the tool is accessible in a few days and evolves without service interruption.
- Native security: GDPR compliant hosting in Europe, automatic updates, data encryption and strong authentication built in from the start.
- Continuous developments: new features delivered regularly, effortlessly for your teams.
- API Integrations & Connectors: interoperability with your LMS, CRM, ERP or billing solutions for a seamless ecosystem.
- Dedicated support and guidance: support, training and documentation available, without having to recruit or mobilize your own developers.
- Immediate scalability: whether you manage 100 or 10,000 learners, the tool adapts automatically without requiring additional infrastructure.
👉 These features transform a simple “software” into aoperational partner capable d’acc
Why choose a specialized SaaS solution like Edusign?
Adopting a SaaS solution isn’t just about saving time. It’s about immediate access to key features that secure, streamline, and accelerate the management of your training:
- ⚡ Express deployment: operational in a few days, without interruption to your activities.
- 🔐 Integrated security: GDPR hosting in Europe, automatic updates, encryption and strong authentication.
- 🔄 Continuous developments: new features delivered regularly, without internal effort.
- 🔗 API Integrations & Connectors: seamless connection with your LMS, CRM, ERP or invoicing software.
- 🤝 Support & accompaniment: assistance, training and documentation included.
- 📈 Immediate scalability: the tool grows with you, whether it’s 100 or 10,000 learners.
👉 With these features, a specialized SaaS becomes much more than just software: it is aoperational partnerwhich saves you time, makes your processes more reliable and supports your growth.
Conclusion: focusing on your added value is the key to success
The decisionBuild vs. Buyis a major strategic trade-off between the desire for total control and the need for agility and expertise. For the vast majority of organisations whosecore businessis and will remain educational engineering and support for learners, relying onspecialized SaaS solutionsis often the most rational and efficient choice. This approach allows them to immediately benefit from the best technologies available on the market for specific functions, while focusing their precious resources on what makes them truly valuable and differentiates them: the quality of their programs and the success of their learners. Solutions like Edusign are the result of thousands of development hours dedicated to a specific problem. By choosing an expert, you save time, gain security, and focus on what matters most.
