Build Once, Run Forever: Capabilities You Keep
A subscription resets every month and leaves you nothing. What changes when the same money builds a capability you keep and compound on.
As a business owner, you're likely familiar with the monthly ritual of paying for SaaS subscriptions. But have you stopped to consider the long-term implications of relying on these services? Every month, your subscription resets, and you're left with no lasting value.
I've seen this play out time and time again with businesses I've worked with. The initial cost savings of using SaaS tools can be attractive, but over time, the cumulative effect of these monthly payments can be staggering. And what do you have to show for it? Often, very little.
The Compounding Effect of Owned Capabilities
When you build custom systems, you create owned capabilities that compound over time. This means that the value of your investment grows, rather than resetting every month. With owned capabilities, you can achieve greater efficiency, scalability, and innovation.
- Increased control over your systems and data
- Improved integration and workflow automation
- Enhanced security and reduced risk
For example, by building a custom workflow automation system, you can streamline your business processes and reduce the need for manual intervention. This not only saves time and money but also reduces the risk of human error.
Another benefit of owned capabilities is the ability to tailor your systems to your specific business needs. When you're using SaaS tools, you're often forced to adapt your processes to fit the limitations of the software. But with custom systems, you can design and build solutions that meet your unique requirements.
The Trade-Offs of Owned Capabilities
Of course, building custom systems and owned capabilities requires a significant upfront investment. It can be time-consuming and expensive to design, build, and implement these systems. But in my experience, the long-term benefits far outweigh the costs.
One common counter-argument to owned capabilities is that they require a high degree of technical expertise to maintain and update. And it's true that custom systems can be more complex and require more specialized knowledge to manage. But this can also be a benefit, as it allows you to develop a deeper understanding of your systems and processes.
What I Would Actually Do
If I were starting a new business today, I would prioritize building owned capabilities from the outset. I would invest in designing and building custom systems that meet my specific business needs, rather than relying on SaaS tools. And I would focus on developing a deep understanding of my systems and processes, so that I can continually improve and optimize them over time.
By taking this approach, I believe you can build a stronger, more sustainable business that is better equipped to compete in today's fast-changing market. And at ZAM, we're committed to helping businesses like yours achieve operational transformation and growth through custom systems and owned capabilities.