Personalization Software: Build or Buy?

As an ecommerce entrepreneur, you already know that tackling challenges calls for ingenuity, resourcefulness, creative flair, and the occasional bit of colorful cussing 🤐

So it’s no surprise that when it comes to improving an online shop with personalization technology, you may question whether it’s smarter to buy it or build it yourself. After all, no one knows your product or your target customer better than you. The data’s there; isn’t the solution just a matter of building the right platform around it?

The answer is....it depends. Creating a personalized technology solution often requires more care and attention than you might expect. Think of it like cooking a gourmet meal. You know the basic ingredients you need and are aiming for a flavorful outcome. But it takes years of practice or a skilled chef to get it just right.

The Challenges of Personalization at Scale

Ecommerce personalization is the perfect way to establish a unique connection with each customer. It means using the data you have about them to make individual interactions more meaningful. Personalization at scale means you can maintain these meaningful interactions over many occasions. Thousands of times per day, or more. 

Below, we've outlined six major criteria to consider as you contemplate this important decision.

• Industry Expertise: How important is industry expertise when deciding to build or buy?
• Time to Market: Would it be faster to outsource, or build my own personalization solution?
• Cost: What costs should I consider, and which option is more cost-effective in the end?
• Scalability & Performance: Is it worth investing in developing tech internally for better long-term outcomes?
• Control & Flexibility: What level of control over a personalization solution is optimal for my business?
• Maintenance & Security: If I make my own product, how do I ensure it stays compliant and holds its own in the industry?

🔍 Industry Expertise

CONSIDERATIONS WHY REBUY?

Building a personalization platform internally requires deep understanding of the ecommerce industry and its unique challenges. 

That's why industry expertise is such a crucial factor when deciding whether to build an AI-powered personalization platform or outsource it to experts.

Without the necessary expertise, you may face implementation roadblocks, difficulties in strategizing for the future, and compliance issues.

On the other hand, by entrusting the task to experts, you can gain the invaluable advantage of tapping into their industry expertise.

This allows you to harness the specialized knowledge of dedicated providers who have extensive experience in creating and managing AI platforms, as well as offering proven solutions that deliver results.

Rebuy brings a one-of-a-kind perspective to the world of ecommerce personalization.

Founded by two brothers with a unique mix of experience as developers, agency owners, and merchants, our deep understanding of the industry has allowed us to create helpful solutions that address the specific needs of your online business.

A skilled developer can create a basic product recommender, but what sets us apart is our extensive ecommerce experience and the robust ecosystem we’ve built. Our platform partnerships and industry relationships. Our early access to emerging tech. Our culture of innovation. It all helps us deliver new solutions every year to your online store.

Want a custom build and implementation done for you by a Rebuy-certified parter? Our vetted, qualified experts can help. Get matched to a Rebuy Service Partner here.

Whether it's developing cutting-edge recommendations strategies, optimizing digital storefronts, or streamlining the customer journey, our team brings decades of industry expertise to work for you and your venture.

 

🏦 Cost

CONSIDERATIONS WHY REBUY?

Developing AI technology in-house can require significant upfront investments.

You'll want to forecast the initial investment in talent acquisition and infrastructure, and then factor in ongoing expenses for research and development. 

As the market shifts and consumer needs evolve, it's imperative to have control over your costs. Unpredictable pricing can lead to frustration at best, and a loss of profits at worst.

Buying a solution requires far less in terms of upfront costs, and you'll avoid the ongoing maintenance and resource allocation (salaries, benefits, ongoing training) required for in-house development. This means your costs are more predictable, and you get to spend your valuable time and money on what you do best.

Consistent updates and a cutting-edge product roadmap means you save big and grow quickly without the sticker shock.

We've heard countless success stories from our satisfied customers who have experienced the immense value of our platform. They consistently tell us that using Rebuy has not only paid for itself but has also saved them hundreds of development hours.

Our powerful growth tools and optimization features have allowed savvy merchants to achieve unprecedented revenue growth, exceeding their initial investment in our platform.

Join our community of successful brands and entrepreneurs and witness firsthand how Rebuy can transform your business.

 

 

 

“The Smart Cart is what drew me in. It’s something we were trying to build internally and when I saw that Rebuy offered it, I was like, ‘This is perfect’. You need to be very confident that what you've built isn't going to break, especially at such a critical point in the checkout journey. ”

Senior Product Manager, TUSHY Krisha Mansukhaney

 

 

 

⚡ Time to Market

CONSIDERATIONS WHY REBUY?

When considering whether to build or buy, how important is Time to Market (TTM) for your business?

Building a robust AI-powered system from scratch requires extensive research, development, and testing. This can delay deployment and take months or even years, potentially impacting your ability to compete in a fast-paced market.

Buying a personalization solution means the development work is done for you. As a result, your TTM shrinks to mere weeks or days—a huge advantage in any industry. After all, your time is just as valuable as money in the bank.

Often, the best solution is customizable enough to create a shopping experience perfectly unique to your business, and flexible enough to plug in and go.

Overcome limitations and accelerate your time to market with our wide range of approaches.

Whether through a no code, low code, or custom code approach, you can use Rebuy to quickly achieve your desired setup. For rapid deployment, use it out of the box and personalize your shop on day one.  

Want a hand getting started? Use a Rebuy Launch Package to assign your entire setup to our Launch Team. We'll take the load off of your shoulders and use our expertise to set your shop up for success. 

By leveraging Rebuy's framework and creative use cases, you can overcome creativity limitations and expedite your time to market.

 

 

Calculate your AOV and revenue

Enter your variables to estimate your AOV and revenue with Rebuy. Use the Low/Average/High selector to predict trends. 

"Rebuy is the most versatile upselling app I’ve ever tried and even more than we could custom build in-house. Bottom line, Rebuy has increased our AOV by 22% immediately and I highly recommend it."

 

 

immi chose Rebuy and slashed their tech stack bill by 40%

"We reduced our software bill by around 40% right out of the gate just from consolidating all 3 of those tools into one with Rebuy."

 

 

 

🔧 Maintenance & Security 

Identify new growth strategies with the Merchandising Audit Checklist

Audit your Shopify store with the FREE Merchandising Audit Checklist to identify hidden revenue-generating opportunities on every page. (70+ resources included!)

 

At Rebuy, we understand the challenges and decisions ecommerce entrepreneurs face when it comes to personalization technology. Deciding whether to build or buy a solution requires careful consideration of various factors. (See how bidet brand Tushy approached this important decision.) And we're here to guide you through the process.

Rebuy's competitive edge lies in our commitment to being a trusted partner in your growth. We offer scalable solutions, cost-effectiveness, rapid time to market, and flexibility tailored to your business objectives. With our extensive experience and innovative approach, Rebuy has become a go-to-partner for businesses thriving in the competitive online marketplace.

Ultimately, whether you choose to build or buy a personalization solution, it's crucial to align it with your business strategy and goals. Rebuy is here to help you make an informed decision and transform your shopping experiences into intelligent and personalized journeys. Join our community of successful brands and entrepreneurs and witness firsthand how Rebuy can elevate your business to new heights.

INTELLIGENT SHOPPING AT SCALE

Transform Your Shopping Experience

Your customers prefer personalized shopping experiences. Get started with Rebuy today and join 12,000+ brands using Rebuy to power their onsite personalization. Because a basic store doesn't cut it anymore.

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