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A $14M+ hybrid platform program

Combining custom-built and off-the-shelf solutions in one governed, multi-vendor program.

$14M+program value
Hybridcustom and packaged
Multivendor governance

The organization needed capabilities that no single software package could deliver. Building everything from scratch would have been slow, expensive and risky.

The answer was a hybrid: proven packaged software where it fit, and custom-built components where the business was truly different. That choice created its own challenge. Multiple vendors, multiple contracts and many moving parts all had to come together as one program.

The hard part of a hybrid program is not the technology. It is making many vendors deliver as one team.

The challenge

No single package met the organization's needs, but a fully custom build carried too much risk and cost.

Our approach

We set a clear build-versus-buy rationale for each component, led vendor selection and contracting, and governed delivery across vendors.

  1. 1
    Strategy

    Decide build or buy, piece by piece

    Each capability was assessed on its own merits: buy where the market had a proven answer, build only where the organization needed something unique.

  2. 2
    Delivery

    Select and contract the right partners

    Vendors were selected against clear criteria, and contracts set out scope, responsibilities and how the pieces would integrate.

  3. 3
    Delivery

    Govern as one program

    One plan, one set of milestones and one governance structure covered every vendor, with integration and dependencies managed centrally.

  4. 4
    Delivery

    Integrate and test end to end

    Custom and packaged components were tested together as a single solution, not in isolation.

  5. 5
    Operations

    Hand over to run

    Ownership, support arrangements and documentation were in place so the solution could be run and improved after launch.

The outcome

A program of more than $14M delivered with custom and packaged components working together.

The value delivered

A program of more than $14M delivered across multiple vendors
The right build-or-buy decision for each capability
Contracts that made responsibilities clear
One governed program instead of many separate projects
Custom and packaged components working as one solution
Ownership and support ready for life after launch

What made it work

  1. Decide build or buy one capability at a time. A single blanket answer rarely fits.
  2. Contract for integration. Spell out who owns the joins, not just the pieces.
  3. Run one program, not many projects. Shared milestones and governance keep vendors aligned.

What it means for you

If your next initiative needs several vendors and a mix of packaged and custom technology, we can help you make the build-or-buy calls and lead the program to delivery.

Let’s talk about the decision in front of you.

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