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Supply Chain Value Creator is a premier consulting company with a proprietary cloud-based network design tool called Continuous Design
Overview Capabilities & Constraints Reports & Outputs Use Cases Solutions Guide
Solutions Guide

Which Network Optimization Approach is Right for You?

Compare all options: Status Quo, Build In-House, Traditional Solutions, or Our Approach

Quick Decision Framework

Find the right approach based on your needs

Need Quick Wins?

Urgent strategic decision (new DC location, network redesign), need expert-led analysis with fast turnaround.

→ Recommended: Consulting
$10-20K | 2 weeks | Expert-led

Run Scenarios Frequently?

Quarterly network reviews, ongoing what-if analysis, testing multiple scenarios regularly.

→ Recommended: Software
$2-6K/month | Unlimited scenarios | Support included

Want Maximum ROI? (Recommended)

Start with consulting for expert-led baseline optimization, then license software for ongoing capability. This delivers quick wins + continuous improvement.

→ Best Value: Consulting + Software
Expert kickstart + ongoing optimization = Maximum ROI

Build vs. Buy: Complete Cost Analysis

The full financial picture including development, labor, and opportunity costs

Build In-House

Development Cost:
  • 1 Data Scientist: $150K salary + $30K benefits
  • Software Engineer: 200 hrs deployment ($50K)
  • Infrastructure: $20K/year (cloud + solver licenses)
  • 12-18 months to build (1,500-2,000 hours)
  • Ongoing: 500 hours/year maintenance
Development Total: $250K+
After Built (No Automation):
  • Supply Chain Analyst: 40 hrs/month on Excel models ($2,400/month)
  • Manager: 20 hrs/month reviewing scenarios ($2,000/month)
  • Analyst: 30 hrs/month building PowerPoints ($1,800/month)
Ongoing Labor: $6,200/month = $74K/year
Hidden Costs (Delayed 12-18 Months):
  • Suboptimal decisions during build period: $100K-500K+
  • Delayed savings realization: $50K-200K+
Year 1 True Total: $400K-1M+

License Our Software

Implementation Cost:
  • $2-6K/month all-in pricing
  • Setup: Same day (2 hours)
  • Training: Included (4 hours)
  • Maintenance: $0 (continuous updates)
Total Year 1: $24K-72K
With Full Automation:
  • Supply Chain Analyst: 4 hrs/month ($240/month)
  • Manager: 2 hrs/month - instant scenarios ($200/month)
  • Analyst: 0 hrs/month - 1-click reports ($0)
Ongoing Labor: $440/month = $5K/year
Immediate Value (Same-Day Start):
  • Start optimizing same-day vs. waiting 18 months
  • Typical 10-15% cost savings annually
Annual Savings: $200K-500K+
Intangible Benefits:
  • Better cross-functional alignment: Visual maps enable productive discussions
  • Faster decision-making: Test ideas in meetings, drive action
  • Reduced risk: Test 20+ scenarios before committing
  • Engineers focus on core products: 2,000 hours freed up
Year 1 Net: $77K cost - $350K savings = $273K gain
4-13x ROI in Year 1

Build costs $400K-1M+ with 18-month delay and ongoing manual work.
Our software costs $77K total (including labor), starts same-day, and delivers $200K-500K+ in annual savings.

Detailed Comparison: All Options

See how each approach compares across key criteria

Criteria Status Quo (Excel) Build In-House Big Consulting Enterprise Software Our Consulting Our Software
Upfront Cost Free $150K-300K (year 1) $500K+ $500K-1M+ $10-20K $24K-72K/year
Annual Cost (Year 2+) $0 $200K-500K+ $0 (one-time) $500K-1M+ $0 (unless repeat) $24K-72K
Time to Deploy Immediate 12-18 months 6-12 months 6-12 months 2 weeks Same day
Scenario Testing Manual, slow Unlimited (after build) Limited (project scope) Unlimited Project scope Unlimited
Expert Support None Internal only During project Limited Full (2 weeks) Ongoing
Maintenance Manual updates 20-30% engineer time None (static) Vendor + IT team None Included
Scalability Limited Depends on build N/A (one-time) High (if staffed) Add software later High
Key Person Risk Medium High Low (deliverables) Medium Low Low
Best For Very small networks Tech companies with data science teams One-time strategic projects Large enterprises with dedicated teams Quick wins, new to optimization Ongoing optimization

Build vs. Buy: The Reality

Why 95% of companies choose to buy instead of building in-house

Building In-House: Hidden Costs

Initial Development
  • Data scientist salary: $150K-200K/year + benefits
  • Optimization solver license: $20K-50K/year
  • Cloud infrastructure: $10K-30K/year
  • Development time: 12-18 months
Ongoing Costs
  • Maintenance: 20-30% of engineer time annually
  • Feature updates: Continuous backlog
  • Tech debt: Compounds over time
  • Knowledge transfer: If engineer leaves
Total Year 1: $200K-500K+
Plus opportunity cost of not focusing on core business

Licensing Our Software: True Cost

What's Included
  • Full platform access: $2-6K/month
  • Gurobi optimization solver: Included
  • Cloud infrastructure: Included
  • Same-day setup: Included
Ongoing Value
  • Expert support: Included
  • Feature updates: Continuous, no effort
  • Maintenance: Zero burden
  • Flexibility: Cancel anytime
Total Year 1: $24K-72K
87-94% cost savings vs. building in-house

The Core Question

Is network optimization your core competency? If not, why spend $200K-500K+ annually to build and maintain software when you could license proven technology for $24K-72K and focus your engineers on what makes your business unique?

Ready to Optimize Your Network?

Schedule a free consultation to discuss which approach is right for your business. No pressure, just expert guidance.

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