Relooking at Transformation Approach

It is a common debate for any transformation project on whether we should do a bespoke solution or leverage existing solutions. While both have pros and cons, it is also difficult to identify a clear winner is many situations, I have leveraged these three tests to help me achieve the end objectives

1. Funding of bespoke solution should be clarified with internal stakeholders and client at the very outset. I am not talking about minor tweaks but full-blown custom solutions. We should be investing only after we reach an agreement on the cash flow otherwise you may be stuck with a half-baked solution. Clients may also explore an agile approach to create a Minimum Viable Product and then agree to open their deep purses.

2. Plug and play solutions which have solved similar problems with your previous clients can be deployed faster and should have very few stabilization and change management issues. However, there may be a need to add some customization layers and establish an ecosystem to achieve the desired solution. If your cost benefit analysis points a positive payback then go for this approach by all means otherwise rethink.

3. Adaptability to your business expansion plan. If the proposed solution whether it’s bespoke or off the shelf but is not scalable to business demands, which are subject to sudden surprises and also Black Swan events (COVID), then you need to think hard and even evaluate if you have selected the right levers.