Commission Software - Build vs. Buy

In the past, sales commission solutions were usually only affordable for enterprise-level organizations with a large-scale sales force. Back then, on-premise solutions required companies to install new applications on local hardware.

The costs associated with commission development and data integration requirements were too complex and expensive for small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMBs). The progression toward cloud and SaaS-based business
applications, as well as advancements in integration capabilities, have enabled this technology to become feasible for companies of any size; and why so many companies are now able to automate this process easily.

Even so, some businesses still opt to invest in homegrown commission tools through their existing CRM. For example, organizations consider CRMs, such as Salesforce.com, as a solution for commission management. Because Salesforce is extensible in so many ways, it is assumed it can handle the intricacies of commission management.

There are benefits and drawbacks to building and buying solutions. This guide covers why build or buy, the cost, development, features, and reporting of both options for commission management.