Build vs Buy · Build vs Buy · Medium · 25-35 min

E-commerce Platform — Build, Buy, or SaaS

Last updated 2026-07-29

What is this case about?

A $500M-revenue retailer's e-commerce platform is creaking and limits growth. Options: adopt a hosted SaaS commerce platform, license a packaged platform to self-host, or build custom. The CMO wants speed and rich features; engineering wants control; finance wants the lowest 5-year cost. You advise.

Where strong candidates start

  • Define requirements — scale, customization needs, integration footprint, peak traffic
  • Compare SaaS vs packaged vs custom on cost, speed, flexibility, and operational burden

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