Build vs. Buy: Should You Custom-Develop Your Freight Software?
Should we build our own freight software—or buy an off-the-shelf solution?
It’s a question of cost, control, and scalability—and one that can have a huge impact on your operation’s future.
🧠What Is Custom-Developed Freight Software?
Building a custom solution means hiring developers to build logistics software from scratch, tailored exactly to your company’s processes and needs. You define the architecture, features, and user experience.
It sounds powerful—but also requires deep commitment.
🧰 What Is Off-the-Shelf Freight Software?
Off-the-shelf software—like Linbis—is pre-built freight software you can start using right away. It typically includes essential logistics tools like:
- Shipment management
- CRM
- Document generation
- Billing & invoicing
- Tracking & customer portals
You can usually customize workflows, branding, and integrations without coding everything from zero.
🆚 Custom vs. Off-the-Shelf: Feature Comparison
Feature/Factor | Custom-Developed Software | Off-the-Shelf SaaS (e.g., Linbis) |
|---|---|---|
Setup Time | 6–18 months or more | Ready in days |
Cost | $100k–$500k+ upfront | Low monthly subscription |
Flexibility | Fully customizable | Highly configurable |
Maintenance | Internal dev team required | Managed by provider |
Updates & Support | You build & fix everything | Continuous updates included |
Integration/API | Must build from scratch | Ready-made + open API |
Risk Level | High (scope creep, delays) | Low (proven, tested system) |
đź’¸ Cost Breakdown: Build vs. Buy
Custom development often looks appealing at first—“we’ll own it!” But here’s the reality:
Cost Category | Custom Build (One-time/Annual) | SaaS (Linbis Monthly) |
Development | $100k–$300k+ | $99–$299/month |
QA/Testing | $20k+ | Included |
Maintenance & Bugs | $30k/year | Included |
API Integrations | $10k+ | Built-in or optional |
Hosting & Security | $5k–$15k/year | Included |
Support Team | Salaries required | Included |
đź’ˇ Verdict: Custom is expensive, slow, and high-risk. SaaS like Linbis is faster, leaner, and scalable.
Why Most Freight Forwarders Choose SaaS
- âś… Launch faster and start serving clients right away
- ✅ Reduce IT burden—no dev team required
- âś… Scale operations without scaling costs
- âś… Integrate easily with CRMs, ERPs, carriers
- âś… Get continuous updates, not version lock-in
Platforms like Linbis give you flexibility and simplicity—without the headache of building your own TMS from scratch. Custom logistics software
🎯 When Custom-Build Might Make Sense
✅ You’re a tech company at your core
âś… You have in-house developers + $500k budget
âś… You need an extremely niche process or regulatory workflow
…for everyone else? Off-the-shelf wins.
🧩 Linbis: A Smart SaaS Platform for Modern Freight Teams
Linbis is a modern, cloud-based freight software platform designed for forwarders, brokers, 3PLs, and NVOCCs.
What you get:
- Shipment tracking
- Quote & rate management
- CRM + customer/vendor portals
- Invoicing & billing
- Branded platform with API integrations
Start today. Scale tomorrow. All without writing a single line of code.
✅ Final Thoughts Custom logistics software: Don’t Reinvent the Wheel
Building your own freight software is like building your own ship—it’s possible, but it’s not efficient.
SaaS platforms like Linbis let you move faster, lower costs, and focus on growth—not development.
Want powerful freight tech without building it from scratch?
👉 Try Linbis and go live in days—not months.