It’s tempting to believe “one size fits all” – until you try it on. Ask anyone who’s ever squeezed into standard-issue wear: designed for convenience, rarely for comfort.
Software is no different. Off-the-shelf solutions might be quick to implement, but they’re rarely a perfect fit, or able to keep up with your business’s expanding requirements.
At the other end of the spectrum, fully bespoke systems offer tailored precision, yet often come with high costs, long timelines, and limited agility.
The most effective route sits between the extremes: modular platforms that offer the customisation of a bespoke build without sacrificing the speed and scale of ready-made solutions. By taking a composable approach, these platforms offer ready-made building blocks that teams can configure with minimal friction.
With low-code tools, open APIs, and robust out-of-the-box functionality, businesses can move quickly – launching fast while still tailoring the experience to fit their needs.
Snapping under pressure
The UK government’s Universal Credit rollout offers a cautionary tale.
In its early stages, the Department for Work and Pensions attempted to piece together various off-the-shelf components to speed up delivery. But the rigid, atomised systems couldn’t cope with the complexity of real-world policy changes, income fluctuations, and integration demands. The result was spiralling costs, repeated delays, and a partial rebuild after more than £300 million had already been spent. The UK’s National Audit Office later cited “weak management” and “poor governance” as key issues, many stemming from the system’s lack of flexibility.
Proven systems in practice
By contrast, flexible platforms are proving their value in real-world environments.
Europe’s leading beauty retailer, Douglas, introduced a supplier portal built on Liferay to manage a network of more than 800 suppliers. Rather than replacing legacy systems, Douglas layered new capabilities over existing infrastructure using open APIs. This approach halved supplier onboarding time, automated key processes, and provided suppliers with real-time business intelligence. The result: fewer errors, faster operations, and a platform built to scale alongside the business.
Broadcom faced a different challenge: serving a global customer base with fast, personalised access to complex product information. To solve it, the technology leader in semiconductor and infrastructure software solutions had a self-service portal built that reduced user clicks by 66%, lowered support ticket volumes, and delivered a more streamlined customer experience, without needing to replace existing infrastructure. Features such as entitlement-based dashboards, built-in search, and low-code configuration enabled rapid delivery while preserving long-term flexibility and scalability.
The AI illusion
That kind of flexibility is becoming essential, especially with the rise of AI-assisted development tools that now promise faster, cheaper ways to launch. In some cases, teams working with AI can generate a working front end in minutes using natural language prompts. But what might look like a shortcut to digital transformation, such rapid development often bypasses the planning, structure, and security that stable systems require. Auto-generated code may introduce hidden flaws, while hastily assembled tools can create fragile ecosystems that are difficult to maintain or expand. Without the foundation of a reliable platform, it’s easy to build fast – and break faster.
This is where flexible, modular platforms come into their own. They offer architectural guardrails, proven integrations, and upgrade paths that support sustainable growth. Businesses can build what sets them apart – custom workflows, tailored experiences – while relying on trusted components for the rest.
A balanced approach
Too many companies fall into the trap of thinking they need to build everything themselves because custom software promises control and a perfect fit. But it also brings complexity, long-term maintenance, and slow response to change. Others rely too heavily on boxed solutions that can’t flex as they grow. Both paths come with risk, related to complexity on one side, rigidity on the other.
The real opportunity lies in balance. Platforms designed to scale and adapt offer faster ROI without locking teams into brittle architectures or endless custom development. They integrate with legacy systems. They evolve with your business. They free up your team to focus on what matters: delivering value, not managing complexity.
Flexibility doesn’t mean compromise; it means readiness. If AI lowers the cost of building and speeds up time to market, the risk isn’t moving too slowly. It’s moving fast in the wrong direction and then making costly mistakes.
The smartest move isn’t all build or all buy. It’s investing in the right foundation, which supports change, balances control with convenience, and grows with you.
