Add COTS article.

Author: chrishowejones

_posts/2024-03-05-COTS.md

@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+---
+title: "Off-the-shelf is not always cheaper"
+excerpt: "... don't give away the Crown Jewels of your business to a vendor who can't do it as well..."
+layout: single
+comments: true
+read_time: true
+share: true
+related: true
+tags:
+  - ai
+  - data
+header:
+  overlay_image: /assets/images/pexels-tembela-bohle-1884581.jpg
+  overlay_filter: 0.25 # same as adding an opacity of 0.5 to a black background
+  caption: "Off-the-shelf is not always cheaper"
+  teaser: /assets/images/pexels-tembela-bohle-1884581.jpg
+
+---
+
+# Off-the-shelf is not always cheaper #
+
+I have had several clients who have asked me to carry out software architecture reviews to determine how to replace bespoke software
+developed in-house with a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) solution.
+
+What I've found with most of these clients has been that the COTS solution (even if customisable) only covers about 70-80% of the functionality of the
+bespoke solution that they wish to replace. It also covers a load of other areas and features that the client has no use for. In addition, they're
+often not aware of the operational expenditure that the COTS solution will take and haven't factored in the cost of customisations and
+maintenance so they're not comparing like with like. They also tend to underestimate the cost and the timescale of the data migration work required to
+move to the replacement system (usually by a factor of 2.5).
+
+Even when all this is taken into account a small cost difference in favour of the bespoke solution alone would not necessarily prevent me from
+recommending moving to an off-the-shelf solution as it can pay off in reduced opportunity cost due to freeing internal engineering capacity.
+
+However, the biggest factor around how to progress is usually what makes your business unique. This is usually your value proposition and the reason
+you get the market share you do. This value proposition is often built into your bespoke solution but not something easily replicated in the off-the-shelf solution (as it's unique!).
+
+This is usually what leads me to recommend either not moving to the off-the-shelf solution or even taking a hybrid approach of replacing all but the
+unique value proposition and either keeping the bespoke solution or building a replacement for the value proposition only.
+
+All of this can be summed up as don't give away the Crown Jewels of your business to a vendor who can't do it as well and can utilise your data to
+determine how to replicate it for your competitors.
+
+Conversely, if the bespoke solution does not make your business unique then consider a commercial replacement (depending on the costs).
+
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+<sub>If you want to discuss how to determine how to migrate to new solutions please contact me through the comments, [email](mailto:[email protected]) or
+[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrishowejones/).</sub>
+
+<sub>Photo by [Tembela Bohle](https://www.pexels.com/photo/grayscale-photography-of-assorted-apparels-on-shelf-rack-1884581/)</sub>