The corporate compensation planning process continues to evolve in scope and complexity. Ever-present cost pressures and rapidly shifting regulatory frameworks ensure that companies will require the exceptional levels of speed and precision that are only achievable through sophisticated software applications that automate, streamline, and simplify the myriad processes for both participants and administrators.

As is the case in most other areas of the corporate IT portfolio, the question quickly emerges: should you build a custom application to manage your corporate compensation? Or is it more advantageous to acquire a commercial system that can be deployed faster? There are many dimensions to such a complex decision. This paper explains the factors that evaluators should consider in making a "build vs. buy" decision.