It’s an age-old question for any company: should you build your own Web Real-Time Communications (WebRTC)-based software application or are you better off buying a pre-packaged commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) solution? Each option has its own allure. One offers speedy deployment whereas the other promises greater flexibility and control. If you need a real-time voice and video application, choosing between a COTS and a commercial SDK can be difficult.
While both software options have their place, here are five key factors you need to consider in your decision-making process.
But first, let’s define some terms:
Commercial SDK, defined
A commercial software development kit (SDK) is a set of tools, software libraries and examples provided by hardware or software vendors that may be licensed for use in developing your own hardware and software applications. SDKs usually focus on the client-side of an application and are generally comprised of a set of software libraries with well-defined application programming interfaces (APIs), sample code, and documentation. They are designed to allow developers to add complex functionality without being an expert in complex subject matter (like the networking protocols required for video conferencing).
Commercial-off-the-Shelf (COTS) defined
It is important to note that there is some disagreement within the business community on what the term commercial-off-the-shelf really means. While it can be a completely turn-key software solution (ex. word processing software), for the purposes of this article we are going to define it as a software product with a common set of functionality that can be used by customers with minimal setup, but can, for a cost, be optionally branded, configured or somewhat modified to suit unique business needs. Most COTS products serve a specific business purpose such as virtual clinics, online learning management systems, and call centre software.
Cost calculations for build or buy software decisions are very complex. While COTS software often comes with a lower upfront cost, the purchase price is only one factor. Anyone considering a software purchase should also consider the cost of current and future customizations, software support, licensing fees, and usage fees. It is important to do the math because the ongoing costs of a COTS product can exceed that of a customized solution built with a commercial SDK, especially when you are paying for features in the COTS product that you are not using.
With a COTS option, ultimately, you do not own the product, the vendor does. As a result, you do not have control over their future development priorities. This means that if there is a feature that you want to add or a workflow you want to adjust, you are at the mercy of the vendor. Some vendors may allow you to pay to have features added but these changes often come at a premium. Depending on your use case and how influential the software is to the success of the business, this may or may not be an issue for you.
When you build your own software with a commercial SDK, you get full control over the product and can develop it in a way that best suits your business.
COTS software has its place and is worth considering if your current workflows and project requirements match very closely with the product and if the software has been thoroughly vetted. However, if your software is the foundation of your business and you need maximum flexibility and control, building your solution with a commercial SDK is always the best choice.
When you need a professional build of a live video-enabled platform to meet your exact specifications, contact our LiveSwitch Inc. team to book a demo of our enterprise-grade LiveSwitch API presently powering video communications for millions around the world.