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TOOL 04 // OBJECTIVE EVALUATION RUBRIC

Build-or-Buy Decision Checklist

A transparent, weighted rubric comparing commercial SaaS software against custom operational systems. Visible weights, clear rationale, and no vendor bias.

Scoring Rubric (1 = Generic SaaS Fit, 5 = Highly Custom Fit)Visible Weighting

How proprietary is this workflow to your competitive advantage?Weight: 25%

Off-the-shelf SaaS forces you into industry generic molds; custom software preserves your unique operational edge.

Standard SaaS4 / 5

Do you require 100% direct ownership of your database and customer data?Weight: 20%

SaaS vendors lock data behind restricted export APIs and monthly seat subscriptions.

Standard SaaS4 / 5

Does your team size make per-user SaaS license fees prohibitive at scale?Weight: 20%

Per-seat pricing penalizes operational growth; custom software has zero per-seat subscription cost.

Standard SaaS3 / 5

Do you need deep integration with custom in-house or legacy ERP systems?Weight: 20%

Packaged SaaS rarely integrates cleanly with specialized factory or legacy accounting setups.

Standard SaaS4 / 5

Do you need to adapt the workflow logic immediately as business rules change?Weight: 15%

SaaS feature requests take months or are rejected; custom code can be updated in hours.

Standard SaaS3 / 5

Weighted Score: 66 / 100

CUSTOM BUILD RECOMMENDED

Strategic Rationale:Your requirements show high operational uniqueness, deep integration needs, and data sovereignty priorities. An off-the-shelf SaaS subscription will lead to costly workarounds and per-seat fee bloat.

Formula Transparency:

Score = Σ (normalized rating × weight) where weights sum to 100%.

Outputs labeled estimate as of 2026-11-02.