Hire an IT consultant or do it yourself?
It is a question many organizations ask themselves: do we invest in external expertise or solve it internally? As an IT consultancy firm, we are honest about the answer: sometimes a consultant is the best choice, but not always. In this article, we provide an honest analysis to help you make the right decision.
When doing it yourself makes sense
Doing it yourself makes sense when your organization has the required knowledge and the project is not time-critical. Think of setting up standard workflows in Power Automate, building simple reports in Power BI, or configuring basic functionality in existing systems. If your team has the time and skills, you simultaneously build internal knowledge that is valuable in the long run.
For small-scale projects with a clearly defined scope, doing it yourself can also be the best option. Think of automating a single process, customizing a form, or setting up a simple Power Apps application. The available documentation and online courses make it increasingly accessible to perform these tasks internally.
When to hire a consultant
A consultant is the better choice in situations where specialized knowledge is crucial, the stakes are high, or time pressure is significant. Think of a complex Dynamics 365 implementation, a migration from legacy systems, setting up an AI strategy, or designing a scalable architecture. In these situations, lack of expertise can lead to costly mistakes that are many times more expensive than hiring a specialist.
Additionally, a consultant provides an objective outside perspective. Internal teams are often involved in existing processes and systems, which can lead to tunnel vision. A consultant looks at your organization with fresh eyes and can identify blind spots that are overlooked internally.
The question is not whether a consultant is expensive, but whether the cost of not hiring a consultant is higher. A wrong architecture decision or a failed implementation costs many times more than professional guidance.
Comparing the real costs
When comparing costs, many organizations only look at the hourly rate of a consultant versus the salary of an internal employee. But the real costs are more complex. An internal project that takes twice as long due to the learning curve effect ultimately costs more than a consultant who delivers it in half the time.
Also factor in opportunity costs. Every hour your internal team spends on an IT project is not spent on their core activities. For a sales team struggling with a CRM implementation for three months, the lost revenue is often a multiple of the consultancy costs. At Breathbase, we make this calculation transparent so you can make an informed decision.
Choosing the best approach
The optimal approach is often a combination. Hire a consultant for strategy, architecture, and complex configuration, but let your internal team participate so they build knowledge. Afterward, the internal team can take over daily management, with the consultant available for complex issues. This model combines the best of both worlds: external expertise for the critical phase and internal knowledge building for the long term.
Regardless of your choice: invest in training for your team. Whether you build it yourself or hire a consultant, a well-trained team is essential for the long-term success of any IT project. At Breathbase, we offer flexible collaboration models that suit every organization and budget.
