Build versus buy
Custom internal tool vs SaaS: which should you choose?
Compare workflow fit, delivery speed, integration, roadmap control, ownership, total cost and exit risk before choosing to build or buy.
Read the guideLCR Technologies guides
Practical answers for better software decisions.
South African guidance on client portals, custom software, workflow automation, AI agents and connected business systems.
Latest guides
Decide what the portal needs to achieve and how to deliver it.
Use the guides and comparisons to define the workflow, architecture, security and delivery approach before committing to a build.
South African automation
How should South African companies automate business processes?
Select one stable, repeated and measurable workflow, then design the people, system, privacy and exception controls around the full outcome.
Read the guideInternal applications
When should you replace a spreadsheet with an application?
Use workflow, permissions, validation, audit and integration needs to decide when a spreadsheet has become an operational system.
Read the guideWorkflow automation
How do you automate email, spreadsheet and WhatsApp workflows?
Create one workflow record behind the channels, then control routing, human review, system updates and exceptions.
Read the guideWorkflow automation
Which business processes should you automate first?
Score candidate workflows by value, frequency, rule clarity, data readiness, exception risk and measurable outcomes.
Read the guideSouth African pricing
How much does custom internal software cost in South Africa?
Compare indicative 2026 planning ranges, scope drivers, commercial models and full ownership costs for internal applications.
Read the guideWorkflow automation
How do you calculate workflow automation ROI?
Build a measured business case from labour capacity, cycle time, errors and risk against full implementation and operating cost.
Read the guideSnowflake data applications
Can you build a customer portal on top of Snowflake?
Use Snowflake for governed analytical data and a server-side application layer for customer identity, tenant scope and workflow.
Read the guideSnowflake customer access
How can customers access Snowflake data without Snowflake accounts?
Compare a customer portal, reader account, API and scheduled export for different human and machine consumers.
Read the guideComparison
Snowflake Data Sharing vs customer portal
Choose Secure Data Sharing for capable Snowflake consumers or a portal for branded human access and workflow.
Read the guideApplication architecture
Laravel + Snowflake customer portal architecture
Use Laravel for application identity and workflow, with a constrained server-side connection to governed Snowflake data.
Read the guideIntegration architecture
APIs vs webhooks vs queues for business integrations
Choose an API for immediate request and response, a webhook for event notification, or a queue for durable asynchronous work.
Read the guideSystem integration
How do you connect a custom application to a legacy system?
Place a controlled translation boundary between the new application and legacy interfaces, then design for failure and coexistence.
Read the guideIntegration architecture
How do you design a business system integration layer?
Create stable business contracts across APIs, events, queues and batch exchange with explicit ownership and observable operations.
Read the guideReporting architecture
What should customer-facing reporting architecture include?
Separate governed data, customer identity, serving contracts, presentation and follow-up workflow into clear architectural responsibilities.
Read the guideSystem modernisation
How do you modernise a business system without replacing it?
Create a stable boundary around the legacy system and deliver one valuable capability at a time while old and new components coexist.
Read the guideReporting architecture
How do you centralise reporting from multiple business systems?
Align business definitions, keys and ownership before integrating data into a governed analytical and reporting model.
Read the guideComparison
Reporting database vs data warehouse
Choose a focused reporting database for a bounded operational need or a warehouse for integrated history, governed measures and wider analytical scale.
Read the guideCustomer reporting
How do you add workflows to customer reporting?
Preserve reporting context as customers query a result, submit evidence, approve an item or track a resolution.
Read the guideConnected systems
How do you securely expose business data to customers?
Use a controlled application boundary for identity, authorisation, data minimisation, integration resilience and auditable customer access.
Read the guideData applications
How do you build a portal on top of a data warehouse?
Add a tenant-aware serving layer, governed measures, freshness controls and customer workflow around trusted analytical data.
Read the guideComparison
Dashboard vs portal vs custom application
Choose the smallest interface that fits the user's need for insight, self-service or a specialised end-to-end workflow.
Read the guideSystem modernisation
How do you build an application on an existing ERP or CRM?
Extend a system of record through supported interfaces, a stable application model and an incremental delivery boundary.
Read the guideComparison
API vs customer portal for giving customers access to data
Choose an API for software consumers, a portal for people and workflows, or a shared service that supports both channels.
Read the guideClient portals
How should you design a client portal API?
Plan customer identity, tenant-aware authorisation, stable contracts, integrations, resilience, versioning and observable operations.
Read the guideComparison
Custom client portal vs off-the-shelf portal software
Compare workflow fit, delivery speed, integration effort, customer experience, security, cost and long-term ownership.
Read the guideClient portals
How do you give each customer access only to their own data?
Use organisation-aware identity, server-side authorisation, tenant-scoped queries and adversarial tests to prevent cross-customer access.
Read the guideConnected systems
How do you turn business data into a customer-facing application?
Build a governed application layer around ERP, CRM, operational and reporting data without replacing every source system.
Read the guideClient portals
How do you choose a client portal development company?
Assess discovery, security, integration thinking, delivery evidence, ownership, support and commercial clarity before appointing a portal partner.
Read the guideClient portals
Client portal implementation checklist
Work from business outcomes and customer access through architecture, testing, rollout, adoption and support readiness.
Read the guideComparison
Custom client portal vs Microsoft Power Pages
Compare delivery speed, Dataverse fit, integration effort, customer experience, security, licensing and long-term ownership.
Read the guideComparison
Client portal vs SharePoint: which should you use?
Choose SharePoint for Microsoft 365 collaboration or a custom portal for a tailored external customer workflow and experience.
Read the guideClient portals
How much can a client portal save your business?
Build an evidence-based ROI case from request volume, handling time, errors, adoption, full cost and measurable operating outcomes.
Read the guideClient portals
How do you build a multi-tenant client portal?
Design organisations, memberships, permissions, customer data isolation, integrations and tenant-aware operations.
Read the guideClient portals
How do you secure a client portal?
Plan identity, customer separation, permissions, data protection, integrations and secure operations as one system.
Read the guideClient portals
How should a client portal connect to CRM, ERP, accounting and APIs?
Map data ownership and choose reliable patterns for APIs, events, queues, synchronisation and legacy-system integration.
Read the guideComparison
Client portal vs customer dashboard: which do you need?
Choose a dashboard for visibility or a client portal for customer actions, self-service and connected workflows.
Read the guideClient portals
What should a good B2B client portal include?
Plan secure access, customer workflows, documents, reporting, integrations, administration and the first useful version.
Read the guideClient portals
Should you build or buy a client portal?
Compare SaaS, configured platforms, custom development and hybrid approaches across fit, cost, control and integrations.
Read the guideClient portals
When does a business need a custom client portal?
Use seven practical signs to assess recurring customer requests, fragmented systems, service volume and the case for a custom portal.
Read the guideClient portals
How much does a custom client portal cost in South Africa?
Compare realistic planning budgets, example scopes, cost drivers, timelines and the decision to build or buy.
Read the guide