SaaS tools win at small scale. Custom automation wins at scale and complexity.
Most businesses start with SaaS tools. The trap: £50 here, £80 there, until you are paying £400+ per month for tools that partially overlap and partially contradict each other — each solving 80% of the problem while requiring manual patches for the rest.
Custom workflow automation does exactly what your process requires — no workarounds, no manual patches. It connects to any tool with an API. It runs at any volume. You own the code. There is no per-task pricing or monthly subscription.
Use SaaS tools when: monthly spend is under £150 for this workflow; the process is stable and simple; all tools are in standard libraries. Build custom when: monthly spend exceeds £200; the logic has outgrown what the tool can express; mobile automation is required; or you need a custom management interface.
Tell us what you need. Fixed-price proposal within 24 hours.