Building vs Buying Software

As engineers, we like to solve problems by building solutions from scratch. Even though on some occasions it’s better to buy and integrate existing software. But how come? Are engineers who don’t always deliver from scratch real engineers? The goal of this talk is to answer all important questions about making build vs buy decisions. We’ll see how to define a clear strategy for making such decisions. And we’ll explore how to select and integrate existing software efficiently. Even if your company doesn’t have the habit of doing it.

Transcript

1. Building vs Buying Software Nikolay Stoitsev Sr Engineering Manager @ Halo Diagnostics stoitsev.com/openfest22
2. People are reluctant to consider buying because… stoitsev.com/openfest22
3. But we are special or in unique situation stoitsev.com/openfest22
4. But it’s not invented here stoitsev.com/openfest22
5. But are we real engineers stoitsev.com/openfest22
6. Why buying? stoitsev.com/openfest22
7. Opportunity cost stoitsev.com/openfest22
8. stoitsev.com/openfest22
9. Value for customers stoitsev.com/openfest22
10. Value for customers Features sorted by value for customers stoitsev.com/openfest22
11. Value for customers Features sorted by value for customers stoitsev.com/openfest22
12. Value for customers Features sorted by value for customers stoitsev.com/openfest22
13. Value for customers Features sorted by value for customers Focus here Don’t Focus here stoitsev.com/openfest22
14. It’s often cheaper stoitsev.com/openfest22
15. Faster time to market stoitsev.com/openfest22
16. stoitsev.com/openfest22 Pitfalls when buying
17. Underestimating the integration stoitsev.com/openfest22
18. Over customizing stoitsev.com/openfest22
19. Evaluating every option for every decision stoitsev.com/openfest22
20. stoitsev.com/openfest22 You need a strategy
21. 3 simple tests Is it core to your business? stoitsev.com/openfest22
22. 3 simple tests Is it core to your business? Will you need to change it regularly? stoitsev.com/openfest22
23. 3 simple tests Is it core to your business? Will you need to change it regularly? Does it need to adapt to changes quickly? stoitsev.com/openfest22
24. Wardley Map stoitsev.com/openfest22
25. Value chain Invisible Visible USER FACING FEATURES stoitsev.com/openfest22
26. Value chain Invisible Visible INFRASTRUCTURE stoitsev.com/openfest22
27. Value chain Genesis Custom Built Product Commodity Evolution Invisible Visible Unique and newly discovered
28. Value chain Genesis Custom Built Product Commodity Evolution Invisible Visible Uncommon and still learning about
29. Value chain Genesis Custom Built Product Commodity Evolution Invisible Visible Common and better understood
30. Value chain Genesis Custom Built Product Commodity Evolution Invisible Visible Highly standardised
31. Value chain Genesis Custom Built Product Commodity Evolution Invisible Visible Common and better understood Uncommon and still learning about Unique and newly discovered Highly standardised
32. Value chain Genesis Custom Built Product Commodity Evolution Invisible Visible patient Start with your users
33. Value chain Genesis Custom Built Product Commodity Evolution Invisible Visible patient scheduling scan prep info Define user needs
34. Value chain Genesis Custom Built Product Commodity Evolution Invisible Visible patient scheduling scan modality calendar prep info sms notifications EHR
35. Value chain Genesis Custom Built Product Commodity Evolution Invisible Visible patient scheduling scan modality calendar prep info sms notifications EHR PACS ITL viewer
36. Value chain Genesis Custom Built Product Commodity Evolution Invisible Visible patient scheduling scan modality calendar prep info sms notifications EHR PACS ITL viewer BUY BUY BUY BUY BUILD BUILD
37. Value chain Genesis Custom Built Product Commodity Evolution Invisible Visible patient scheduling scan modality calendar prep info sms notifications EHR PACS ITL viewer BUY BUY BUY BUY BUILD BUILD OPEN SOURCE EHR
38. stoitsev.com/openfest22 How to pick what to buy
39. Make a wish list stoitsev.com/openfest22
40. There will be missing features stoitsev.com/openfest22
41. You will never have a perfect picture stoitsev.com/openfest22
42. Find your vendors and keep a scoresheet Feature A Feature B Feature C First Vendor Yes No No Second Vendor Yes No No, but possible Third Vendor Partially Yes No stoitsev.com/openfest22
43. Example considerations • Company information • Company financial information • Features • Pricing • Risks - reputational, security, operational stoitsev.com/openfest22
44. Vendor management is super important stoitsev.com/openfest22
45. But my company doesn’t buy software stoitsev.com/openfest22
46. Start with a small experiment stoitsev.com/openfest22
47. Build a case stoitsev.com/openfest22
48. Summary 1. You can buy and integrate ready-made solutions stoitsev.com/openfest22
49. Summary 1. You can buy and integrate ready-made solutions 2. Think about opportunity cost and time to market stoitsev.com/openfest22
50. Summary 1. You can buy and integrate ready-made solutions 2. Think about opportunity cost and time to market 3. Beware of the pitfalls when buying and integrating stoitsev.com/openfest22
51. Summary 1. You can buy and integrate ready-made solutions 2. Think about opportunity cost and time to market 3. Beware of the pitfalls when buying and integrating 4. Have a strategy stoitsev.com/openfest22
52. Summary 1. You can buy and integrate ready-made solutions 2. Think about opportunity cost and time to market 3. Beware of the pitfalls when buying and integrating 4. Have a strategy 5. Vendor management is super important stoitsev.com/openfest22
53. Thank you! Q&A Nikolay Stoitsev Sr Engineering Manager at Halo Diagnostics Photos by ThisIsEngineering, cottonbro, mentatdgt, Pixabay, Steve Johnson, Daniel Reche, veeterzy, Ricardo Esquivel, picjumbo, Tima Miroshnichenko, and Christina Morillo from Pexel stoitsev.com/openfest22