SuitePortal vs Building Custom
The build vs. buy decision for your NetSuite customer portal. Compare total cost of ownership, timeline, and flexibility.
Overview
Many companies consider building a custom portal to get exactly what they want. While custom development offers maximum flexibility, it comes with significant costs, timeline, and ongoing maintenance considerations that are often underestimated.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | SuitePortal | Custom Development |
|---|---|---|
| Time to launch | Days | 3-12 months |
| Upfront cost | $0 to start | $50k-$500k+ |
| Ongoing maintenance | Included | Your team |
| Security updates | Automatic | Your responsibility |
| NetSuite upgrades | Handled | Rework required |
| Feature updates | Continuous | As you build |
| Scalability | Built-in | Architecture dependent |
| Support | Included | Your team |
| Customization | High | Unlimited |
| Risk | Low | High |
Why Choose SuitePortal
Things to Consider
Unique Requirements
If you have truly unique requirements that no platform can address, custom development may be necessary. But these cases are rarer than expected.
Long-Term Flexibility
Custom development gives you control over the roadmap. With SuitePortal, you're dependent on our feature development (though we're responsive to customer requests).
Frequently Asked Questions
What if SuitePortal doesn't have a feature we need?
Contact us! Many features come from customer requests. Our API also allows custom integrations for unique needs.
Can we customize SuitePortal extensively?
Yes, through branding, configuration, and API integrations. You won't have source code access, but most customization needs are covered.
What's the true cost of custom development?
Initial build is typically $50k-$500k+. Ongoing maintenance, hosting, and updates often equal 20-30% of initial cost per year.
The Verdict
Unless you have truly unique requirements that can't be addressed by configuration or API integration, SuitePortal offers a faster, lower-risk, and more cost-effective path to a customer portal. The total cost of ownership is typically 5-10x lower over a 3-year period.
Ready to try SuitePortal?
See for yourself why businesses choose SuitePortal over Custom Development.