Software development costs have been declining for decades. Open-source resources, modern development tools, cloud computing, pre-built frameworks, automated testing, and other advancements have continually reduced the cost and time required to deploy software.
As costs dropped, third-party licensing increased. Businesses took advantage of the growing field of off-the-shelf solutions to free up resources for their core value drivers.
The introduction of coding agents continues this established build-vs-buy trend.
The Real Cost of Building
The appeal of building software in-house is easy to understand. If a development team can create an application without paying a licensing fee, the savings are clear-cut on a spreadsheet.
However, ongoing costs such as maintenance, testing, security, and continuous investment are less visible but essential to prevent in-house software from dragging down other areas of the business.
Opportunity cost is another factor. Time spent supporting software that doesn’t differentiate the business is time lost to a competitor that is more focused. A decision that looks like a cost-saving measure can ultimately redirect valuable resources away from higher-priority initiatives.
Specialized software providers constantly compete on product and price. Clients benefit from that competition through product innovation and better choices, without having to fund the development themselves or absorb the fixed costs that providers distribute across their client base.
For mineral owners and managers, what should guide the decision to build or buy software?
Build vs. Buy Within Minerals
Choosing the right software is difficult when considering the pace of innovation and how business needs and differentiators may change over time.
For mineral owners and managers, data mobility should be a key consideration in any software solution. Owners and managers rely on data from many public and private sources. Bringing that data together, making it useful, and moving it across tools and processes requires software built with the goal of maximizing client flexibility. This contrasts with software designed to restrict data mobility and direct users toward affiliated products.
APIs make it easier for applications to exchange data and work across different technology stacks. According to Postman’s 2025 State of the API Report, 82% of organizations have adopted some level of an API-first approach, with fully API-first companies growing 12% from the previous year. The report, based on responses from more than 5,700 developers, architects, and executives, highlights the growing role of APIs in connecting applications and supporting AI-driven workflows.
SS&C MineralWare’s Developer API Library
SS&C MineralWare’s Developer API library addresses this need by enabling teams to connect MineralWare with existing systems and workflows. It supports data movement and customizations while allowing organizations to leverage MineralWare’s specialized mineral management capabilities.
The Developer API library will continue to expand alongside MineralWare’s growing collection of pre-built integrations, giving mineral owners and managers additional ways to connect their technology.
AI may make building software easier, but that doesn’t necessarily make it the better choice. The most effective technology strategy will depend on knowing where internal development creates real value, where specialized software makes more sense, and how those technologies work together.
To learn more about how SS&C MineralWare simplifies mineral management, call (817) 735-8195 or email info@sscmineralware.com.
