When you know your current procurement system is inefficient, struggling to keep up with modern demands and no longer fit for purpose, and you know a modern procurement platform will solve those traditional problems… what do you do next?
Do you build a completely custom system from scratch?
Or do you deploy a configurable platform like IR Tech’s that’s already proven at enterprise scale?
The best solution for your enterprise lies in the detail.
1. Deployment speed – weeks vs. years
Custom procurement systems typically take 12-24 months to implement, including scope, design, development and testing. And that’s if everything goes according to plan.
In reality, most custom builds are delayed further by scope changes, integration challenges, and unforeseen technical hurdles, while your procurement problems continue for another 1-2 years.
But with a bespoke platform like IR Tech’s…
Deployment happens in 6 weeks. Not 6 months. Not 18 months. Six weeks.
The core infrastructure already exists and is proven, so you’re not starting from nothing. You’re customising a platform that’s already handling thousands of orders for enterprise organisations like United Airlines and Hilcorp Energy.
Less wait time. Less risk. You can ditch the manual processes, quickly adapt to your workflows, and integrate suppliers instantly, because the foundations are already there.
2. Cost – predictable vs unpredictable
The initial development of a custom procurement system can range from £500,000 to £2 million+, depending on scope, thanks to multiple specialist teams and overheads.
The costs don’t stop at launch either, with maintenance teams and new feature requests all demanding budget. Technology debt quickly accumulates.
But with a bespoke platform like IR Tech’s…
Your platform is already built, so you only need to invest in the initial configuration. You only pay for customisation and integration, not ground-up development.
There’s no CAPEX upfront, and instead of unpredictable development costs every time you need a change, you have a predictable OPEX.
The maintenance costs are shared across all platform clients too, delivering continuous improvements, security updates, and new features to keep operations resilient and help you scale.
3. Performance – reliable vs untested
A custom procurement system is new. New means untested at scale. Unknown edge cases, bugs, and performance issues only reveal themselves once real users start placing real orders.
Your organisation becomes the test case. Integration challenges can be discovered post-launch and there’s no track record with real enterprise volumes to give you confidence it will perform under pressure.
But with a bespoke platform like IR Tech’s…
Reliability is already proven, which means zero edge case risk. Production maturity from day one. The system is battle-tested at scale with United Airlines, Hilcorp Energy, and many other enterprise organisations.
We know how it performs. We know how to make it work for your business. And integrations with major ERP systems are proven.
Your organisation benefits from continuous improvements that are informed by real-world usage across multiple enterprises – proven best practice, without the risk.
4. Flexibility – agile vs rigid
Custom builds might seem more flexible because you control everything, but in reality, they become rigid quickly, and flexibility comes at a high price.
Owning the code, means owning the development time and cost of every change. New supplier integration? That’s a development project. New workflow requirement? Another development project.
But with a bespoke platform like IR Tech’s…
You can quickly adapt, add and integrate based on your business needs.
IR Tech’s platform integrates with any supplier (we’re manufacturer and fulfillment agnostic), connects to your existing ERP systems, supports custom workflows, and deploys new capabilities through configuration rather than coding.
Configuration is faster, more reliable, and less expensive than custom development.
5. Integration – built-in vs developed
Modern enterprises need procurement platforms that connect seamlessly with:
- Existing ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, etc.)
- Custom suppliers and manufacturers
- Approval workflow systems
- Financial reporting tools
A large enterprise needs multiple integrations at scale. Development projects that take time and money with a custom build, not to mention risk. If a supplier changes their system, you might need to rebuild your integration or risk a failure point.
But with a bespoke platform like IR Tech’s…
You get pre-built integrations with major ERP systems, including direct integration with Amazon Business to make your enterprise procurement simpler. (We were the first company to integrate directly with Amazon’s APIs).
You’l also find configurable API frameworks for custom suppliers, so you can connect to all your existing systems and integrate with any fulfillment providers you want. Integrations on-demand, without the development costs.
6. Support – ongoing vs independent
Lastly, a custom build means you own all the support and maintenance. You need to oversee and fund it.
You’re responsible for security patches, compliance updates, and keeping the technology stack current, and you need to plan projects and allocate resources. It needs continuous investment to stay relevant.
But with a bespoke platform like IR Tech’s…
Professional support is included. IR Tech’s team offers 24/7 support, meaning there’s always someone available when you need help, wherever your enterprise is based.
Platform updates and improvements are deployed automatically. Security and compliance are managed at the infrastructure level, and IR Tech’s ISO 27001 certification means information security management is baked into the platform.
New features and integrations are added continuously, without additional expense on your part. You get on-demand support and long-term stability.
A bespoke platform = more effective enterprise procurement
Traditional thinking says custom builds offer more control and perfect alignment with your unique needs. But in practice, that “perfect alignment” takes 18-24 months to achieve, costs millions, and is often outdated before it even launches.
The smarter, agile approach is a configurable platform built on mature infrastructure that can be adapted to your specific requirements in weeks, not years.
Even if you have unique procurement requirements, unless you want a big, expensive, time and resource-consuming custom build, a bespoke platform for your modern procurement system is:
- Efficient
- Easy to adapt
- Easy to use
- Cost-effective
What makes your procurement unique is your specific workflows, suppliers, approval processes, and business rules. A mature platform like IR Tech’s handles all the infrastructure – ordering, fulfillment, integrations, security, reporting – while giving you complete customisation of what matters.
It adapts to your enterprise, however you like, so you can digitise your procurement process and future-proof your system.
Book a demo today, and we’ll show you how enterprises like United Airlines, Hillcrop Energy and the NHS – modernised procurement without a multi-year project.
