Build vs. Buy Real-Time Data Solutions: Which Is Best?

Real-time data is a key driver when it comes to business decisions. It enables companies to monitor operations live, spot trends, and respond quickly to issues. 

This leads to faster decision-making, streamlined operations, and better customer experiences. Companies leveraging real-time analytics have seen significant improvements, including more efficient logistics and smarter decision-making (Oracle). 

Real-time data also has a direct impact on business performance: research from MIT’s Center for Information Systems found that businesses with real-time capabilities saw 62% higher revenue growth and 97% higher profit margins (RTInsights). 

While the value of real-time data is clear, the real question is: should you build a custom solution tailored to your needs, or buy a ready-made solution from a vendor? 

Let’s weigh your options together! 

Table of Content 

• What Are Real-Time Data Solutions?
• Building Real-Time Data Solutions: What Does It Really Take?
• Buying Real-Time Data Solutions: What Are the Trade-Offs?
• Build vs. Buy: Which Option is Right for Your Business?
• How NaNLABS Can Support You

What Are Real-Time Data Solutions?

So, what exactly are real-time data solutions? Without fully understanding what this means, we risk simply discussing a buzzword.

According to Splunk, "Real-time data is available as soon as it's created and acquired. Rather than being stored, data is forwarded to users as soon as it's collected."

Many business functions require real-time data, particularly operations, customer interactions, and market changes.

In supply chain management, real-time data will allow companies to track shipments, manage inventory, and anticipate potential disruptions. In practice, "Real-time data keeps track of every level and ensures that the right authorities are informed when something goes wrong" (Spotfire).

Rather than reactive approaches, real-time data can help nurture practice strategies with improved operational efficiency and, ultimately, a competitive advance.

By leveraging current data, organizations can make informed decisions based on the current state of operations and market conditions.

Building Real-Time Data Solutions: What Does It Really Take?

When we talk about building real-time data solutions from the ground up, it includes building it in-house but it also includes getting external help from a vendor. 

Either way, it’s about having full control over how your data flows, how it’s processed, and how it supports your business goals.

Let’s dive into the pros and cons.

Pros of Building Real-Time Data Solutions

If your business needs a high level of customization, strict data governance, or long-term scalability, building your own real-time data solution can be a smart move. Here’s why:

Customization and Flexibility

A custom-built solution lets you align the system directly with your internal processes, data models, and infrastructure. It’s built around your business—not the other way around. That level of alignment can drive efficiency, agility, and a competitive edge.

Ownership and Control

When you build, you own the system. You decide how data is handled, when updates happen, and what gets prioritized. This is especially valuable when working with sensitive information or proprietary workflows.

Long-Term Cost Efficiency

Yes, building is an upfront investment—but it can pay off. You avoid ongoing vendor fees, and you can optimize infrastructure and scale based on your actual needs (Shah, Medium). Over time, that flexibility can lead to serious savings.

Cons of Building Real-Time Data Solutions

Of course, building real-time data solutions isn’t all upside. Here are a few important considerations:

High Development Costs

Building a custom solution from scratch requires a skilled team, specialized tools, and robust infrastructure. Whether you’re using internal talent or partnering with experts, you’ll need to budget for it.

Longer Time to Market

Designing, testing, and deploying takes time. While the end result might be exactly what you need, the wait could delay the value you’re hoping to unlock.

Ongoing Maintenance and Support

When you own it, you maintain it. Updates, fixes, scaling—it’s all on your team (or your vendor). That can strain internal resources if not planned for properly. 

Ultimately, building a real-time data solution will give you unparalleled customization and control, but it will also demand time, budget, and expertise. 

Buying Real-Time Data Solutions: What Are the Trade-Offs?

Opting for a pre-built, off-the-shelf real-time data solution is often faster and easier than building from scratch. Vendors offer ready-made platforms that promise quick deployment, built-in support, and reduced operational overhead. 

But like any shortcut, it comes with trade-offs. Let’s weigh the pros and cons of buying real-time data solutions.

Pros of Buying Real-Time Data Solutions

Buying real-time data solutions is a smart move when speed, simplicity, and predictable pricing are top priorities.

Faster Deployment

Pre-built solutions are designed for quick rollouts. Integration is usually straightforward, and vendors often position time-to-value as a key selling point. If you're looking to move fast, this is a major advantage.

Lower Initial Costs

Licensing a commercial platform typically costs less upfront than building a custom solution. Vendors also absorb infrastructure and development costs, which helps you avoid large capital investments early on. 

Built-In Support and Maintenance

Most solutions come with ongoing support, automatic updates, and built-in security. That means less pressure on your internal team to troubleshoot, patch, or monitor the system. It’s handled for you by a third party.  

Cons of Buying Real-Time Data Solutions

Despite the quick wins, buying a solution has limitations, especially if flexibility and long-term cost-efficiency are a concern for you.

Limited Customization

Off-the-shelf solutions may not align perfectly with your workflows, data models, or system architecture. Some platforms offer flexibility, but they rarely offer the depth of customization you’d get from a purpose-built system.

Vendor Lock-In

When you buy, you're tied to that vendor's roadmap, pricing, and support model. That dependency can limit your agility, especially if your needs evolve or if the vendor shifts direction.

Ongoing Costs

Subscription-based pricing means you’ll pay for as long as you use the platform. While it may be cost-effective in the short term, costs can scale quickly, and in some cases, overtake the total cost of ownership of a custom solution over time.

Overall, buying a real-time data solution is often the fastest and most convenient path but it’s not always the most sustainable. It’s best for teams looking to move fast with minimal overhead, but it may limit flexibility down the road.

Build vs. Buy: Which Option is Right for Your Business?

Now that we’ve explored both paths, it’s time to get practical. Should you build a custom real-time data solution or buy one off the shelf? Let’s break down the key factors to help you make the right call.

Key Factors to Consider

Budget Constraints

What’s your budget? Custom builds have higher upfront costs, even if they offer better long-term ROI. If your budget is tight, buying might be the more feasible short-term solution. But if you can afford to invest now, building becomes more appealing.

Internal Expertise

Do you have the right people on your team? Building requires in-house (or partner) expertise in data engineering, architecture, and ongoing support. If you're light on technical resources, buying lets you skip the talent gap.

Scalability Needs

Anticipating major growth? Custom solutions scale with your specific needs and infrastructure in mind. Off-the-shelf tools can scale too—but always check limits, flexibility, and cost structures as you grow.

Time to Deployment

Do you need a real-time solution now? Buying wins here as most tools can be integrated quickly. Building takes more time but may provide a better long-term fit. Balance your urgency against the value of a tailored system.

Competitive Advantage

If your real-time data strategy is part of how you differentiate in the market, that’s a strong case for building. Customization, speed, and alignment with proprietary processes can give you an edge that off-the-shelf tools just can’t match.

Build vs. Buy: A Quick Comparison

If you’re looking for a more flexible approach, NaNLABS can help! We help companies build tailored real-time data solutions that feel in-house—without the traditional internal overhead, always with speed and cost-efficiency in mind.

How NaNLABS Can Support You

Choosing between building or buying a real-time data solution is a strategic decision. At NaNLABS, we offer a flexible approach that combines the best of both worlds: custom development and lean execution.

Tailored Real-Time Solutions

We design low-latency, cloud-native architectures that process and analyze data as it's generated. This empowers you to act fast, automate decisions, and scale effortlessly.

Embedded Collaboration

For every project, we assemble a dedicated squad of experts based on your specific challenges and business goals. Working in Agile pods, we integrate seamlessly with your in-house team, making it seem like we’ve always been there. 

This collaborative approach ensures that the final product feels like an in-house solution, without the associated overhead.

Here’s what to expect from your Tech Sidekick:

What To Expect From Your Tech Sidekick

Proven Expertise Across Industries

From optimizing EV charging networks to enhancing cybersecurity threat management, our real-time data processing solutions have delivered measurable results across various sectors. 

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Let’s tackle your real-time data processing challenges together! Reach out today!