Own What Sets You Apart

Organizations often know very well which tasks they should perform themselves and which they can outsource to focus on core activities. But when it comes to the software that supports that very same core business, the thinking is surprisingly less straightforward.

My advice? Pause and reflect on holdership and ownership regarding that core functionality. Retain control over your business-critical software. Especially now that AI makes this more feasible than ever.

The Outsourcing Paradox

Nowadays, organizations find it natural to outsource peripheral activities. You continue to perform the core activity/activities yourself, of course. Because you don't hand over the foundation of your existence. You want to remain in charge of that.

Yet, that logic is often abandoned when it comes to software for those core activities. Organizations frequently opt for a standard solution (SaaS) or complete outsourcing. Even though software is increasingly an inseparable part of your value proposition. It often is your product, or the way you uniquely deliver your service.

Maintain Control over Business-Critical Software

As developers, we regularly see friction in organizations that have given away control over their unique processes. We strongly advise remaining the boss of this yourself.

You must own that software (not rent it) and develop and manage it yourself (or have it developed).

• You are not at the mercy of an external party's roadmap.
• You can continue to develop the software optimally, aligned with the course of your organization.
• You know best what your customers need.

AI: The Gamechanger for Ownership

In the past, "building everything yourself" was a recipe for bankruptcy or multi-year IT projects. But times have changed.

Thanks to AI, developing and maintaining software yourself is feasible for many more companies. It is no longer reserved for tech giants. AI allows you to build software with a small, focused team that used to require dozens of developers.

This is a huge opportunity to:

1. Differentiate yourself: Build exactly what makes you unique, not what standard software allows.
2. Be independent: Break free from unwanted entanglement with cloud services, vendors, and other people's priorities.
3. Move fast: Adapt your software as soon as the market (or you) demands it.

Choose the Right Mix

Does this mean you should start programming your accounting package yourself? Absolutely not.

For peripheral activities (such as accounting or HR administration), standard software or SaaS is fine. That's not where your distinctiveness lies. But for your core activity, it's different.

For example, if we build a platform for a logistics service provider with a unique planning process, that process is their gold. You don't put that in a standard module that the competitor also uses. You want to keep a grip on that. No "computer says no" or "maybe in the next release", but direct control over your added value.

Conclusion

Ensure you remain the boss of the software that makes you unique. With the power of AI, that threshold is lower than ever. You can always bring in external expertise to help you build (please do!), but ensure that ownership and control lie with you.

This way, you retain grip, flexibility, and absolute focus on your own core activity. That is not a technical choice, but a strategic necessity.