Build vs. Buy: Core Considerations for Sourcing Your Payments Systems
Today’s merchants expect seamless sign-up experiences, powerful tools and payments that work in any situation. For independent sales organizations (ISOs) and software-as-a-service (SaaS) providers offering payments, that means going beyond basic processing to deliver full-service merchant solutions.
But when it comes to the tech stack that makes that possible — gateways, onboarding systems, customer relationship management tools, and underwriting solutions — most providers face one crucial question:
Should you build those solutions in-house or buy them from a trusted technology partner?
This whitepaper breaks down the key factors driving the build vs. buy decision, from development costs and compliance burdens to competitive advantage and integration complexity. Whether you're scaling fast or just getting started, you’ll learn how to evaluate each option through the lens of your business model, team resources and growth strategy.
You’ll learn:
- What systems are best suited to build, buy or both
- How ISOs and SaaS providers approach this decision differently
- Where to watch for cost and compliance pitfalls
- How to evaluate your team’s readiness to develop in-house
- What to consider across the “six Cs” framework: cost, complexity, completeness, compliance, cohesion and competitiveness
Plus, you’ll also get access to a self-assessment scorecard so you can make the build vs. buy decision with confidence.
Download the full whitepaper to learn more.