Look beyond the licence fee
The real comparison is not only subscription price versus development price. It includes workarounds, manual coordination, integrations, change costs and the value of a better process.
Measure the present
Which tasks consume time today? Where do employees switch tools, copy information or correct exceptions? Establish a baseline before promising savings.
Scope the improvement
Define a first business outcome and the people it serves. Include the cost of building, connecting, securing and maintaining the application.
Decide with evidence
A tailored application is not automatically cheaper. It is worthwhile when the improvement and control justify its full lifecycle cost.