Build vs. Buy: Moving from Opinions to Data
Meet Harry: Our agent for navigating SaaS purchases, renewals and new AI builds.
In our recent piece on the SaaSpocalypse, we explored the structural shift where the established SaaS model is being challenged by the rpid advancement of AI-powered, “vibe coded” solutions.
There is no shortage of opinions on this trend—including our own—but at the moment, there is very little actual data. While the industry is rife with speculation about how easy AI makes it to “Build,” (and counterarguments of the not-so-hidden costs and risks) there is a clear gap in evidence regarding how organizations are actually navigating the “Buy” in the real world.
We’re aiming to help fill that data gap.
Today, we are proud to launch the Build vs. Buy Decision Platform at bvb.differentialfactor.com. We are making this software available for free because we want to help move this discussion from opinions to evidence. With this tool, we have a mechanism to collect the anonymized, behavioral data required to understand how corporate decision-makers are actually weighing these trade-offs right now - and how those decisions will evolve over time.
Meet Harry, our Enterprise Software Agent
To analyze this data, we’d also like to introduce you to Harry, our resident Enterprise SaaS agent. As our first agent at Differential Factor, Harry is here to navigate the strategic and financial metrics and decisions involved in making a Build vs. Buy decision—helping teams move beyond anecdotal opinions toward evidence-based, computational judgment. Whether you are evaluating a new purchase or preparing for a high-stakes renewal, Harry helps you weigh the variables that actually influence outcomes: total cost of ownership, speed to value, and the strategic drivers of your business’s actual needs.
Robust Enough to be Useful, Simple Enough to be Easy
BVB is a V1. We have intentionally kept it lean because we know that for a tool to be useful, it must be usable. Our goal was to create a framework robust enough to support a defensible business case, yet general-purpose enough to be used across different categories of SaaS.
A few things to know as you explore the platform:
BVB is absolutely free. This is a research initiative intended to support analysis of key enterprise-level decisions.
Built for renewals and new purchases. Use it to stress-test your current vendors and help your negotiation before you sign your next multi-year contract.
Harry is a trainee. He’s already quite good at analyzing inputs, but over time as he gathers more data he’ll become even better at benchmarketing, analysis and recommendatinos.
A Contribution to the Data. By using the tool, you are helping us build the first real dataset on how the “Build vs. Buy” calculation is evolving in the age of agentic AI. Your data will be kept fully anonymous and will not be used for any purpose beyond analysis.
The SaaSpocalypse doesn’t mean the end of software; it means the end of making decisions in the dark. We invite you to put it - and Harry - to work.
Visit bvb.differentialfactor.com and let us know: does Harry’s logic match your vision? We’re looking forward to your feedback and appreciate your participation.