<\/span>Platforms vs development companies: which one do you actually need?<\/span><\/h2>\nBefore you compare vendors, decide which type of company you are hiring. The answer usually comes down to how standard your use case is and how much of your own data and workflow logic the bot has to understand.<\/p>\n
A platform is a ready-made product. You sign up, connect your knowledge base and channels, and the bot answers within days. A development company builds a bot around your systems, your data and your rules, then hands it over or maintains it. The first is faster and cheaper to start. The second gives you control and a solution that fits processes a template cannot.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n| \n Question<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Lean platform<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Lean custom development<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\n| \n Is your use case standard (FAQs, order status, lead capture)?<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n No, it is unusual or industry-specific<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\n| \n How fast do you need to launch?<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Days to weeks<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Weeks to months is acceptable<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\n| \n How much custom integration with internal systems?<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Little, mostly CRM and helpdesk<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Deep, into ERPs, legacy or proprietary tools<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\n| \n Do you have in-house developers to maintain it?<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n No<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Yes, or you want a partner to maintain it<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\n| \n Upfront budget appetite<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Low, subscription-based<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Higher, project-based<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\n| \n Who owns the logic and data model?<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n The vendor<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n You<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Plenty of Australian businesses end up with a hybrid: a platform for front-line support plus a partner to handle the tricky integrations. Our own view on the trade-off is set out in chatbot companies for business automation and growth<\/span><\/a>, which is worth a read before you commit either way.<\/p>\n |