Development

Custom Software Development: Build vs Buy

By Hibba Limited · February 2026 · 6 min read

Every growing business eventually faces a critical decision: should you purchase an off-the-shelf software product or invest in a custom-built solution? At Hibba Limited, we have guided clients like Dyson, Coca-Cola, and CIPD through this decision, helping them choose the path that delivers the greatest long-term value.

When Off-the-Shelf Works

Commercial software products are ideal for standard business functions such as email, accounting, and basic CRM. They offer quick deployment, regular updates, and lower upfront costs. If your requirements align closely with what a product offers out of the box, buying makes sense.

However, problems arise when businesses try to force-fit generic tools to handle unique workflows, complex integrations, or industry-specific requirements.

The Case for Custom Development

Our Development Approach

We follow Agile development methodologies, delivering working software in iterative sprints. Our technology stack includes React, Node.js, Python, and .NET, alongside cloud-native architectures on AWS and Azure. We also build cross-platform mobile applications using React Native and Flutter.

Quality and Testing

Every line of code is backed by automated testing, code reviews, and continuous integration pipelines. We deliver software that is reliable, performant, and secure from day one.

"The best software is the software that fits your business perfectly — not the one that forces your business to change."

How Hibba Limited Can Help

Whether you need a complete enterprise platform, a customer-facing web application, or a mobile app, our development team delivers solutions built to last. We handle everything from discovery and design to development, deployment, and ongoing support.

Have a project in mind?

Let's discuss how custom software can transform your business.

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